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There’s a joke about an Irishman who walks into a bar and orders three pints of Guinness for himself. The bartender tells him that Guinness goes flat in just a few minutes. It would be better to buy each one separately. “Well”, says the Irishman, “I have two brothers, one in America and the other in Australia, and I’m here in Dublin. When we all left home we promised that we would have a drink in this way to remember the days when we were together.” The bar-tender admitted that that was a nice custom and gave him his pints. Day after day the Irishman came in and made the same order, until one day he came in and ordered only two pints. All the regulars noticed the difference and fell silent, sure that one of the brothers had passed away. “I’m sorry for your loss,” said the bartender. The Irishman looked confused for a moment and then began to laugh. “Oh no, everyone is fine!” the Irish-man said. “I’ve just quit drinking for Lent.”
I hope that wasn’t inappropriate for a church newsletter, but at least it might get you to thinking about what you’ve given up for Lent. I have some suggestions about what to give up, besides the usual things like alcohol, red meat, and sweets. How about giving up things like grudges and hard feelings toward some people who may be on your black list? How about giving up the grudges you hold against yourself because of guilt and shame of things done in the past? How about giving up the need to always be right or the need to express anger in harsh ways when an explanation of your feelings would do? How about giving up the embarrassment you may feel toward talking to a stranger, even if you can tell that person needs some-one to talk to, or how about giving up the awkward feelings we use as ex-cuses for not sharing our faith with someone we know needs to hear about Jesus Christ? Or how about giving up anything, in general, that keeps any of us from sharing the love of Christ with all those around us?
Tony Campolo tells of sitting in the terminal of a small airport in New Mexico and noticed a woman who was sitting alone. From her expression, Tony decided she must be mad at the world. He decided to not allow the fact that they were strangers to each other stop him from trying to strike up a conversation together. In fact, Tony had made up his mind he would try to get her to smile, maybe even laugh. So he went and sat down next to her and began talking. Sure enough, he got her to smile, then laugh, and then he said it was like an emotional dike had broken and they were having a hilarious time. Others, who were sitting nearby, even started joining in. Finally, the friend the lady was waiting for disembarked and the two left to-gether after bidding everyone good-bye. Several minutes went by as Tony waited for his plane to be announced, when suddenly he noticed the woman coming back in to talk to him again. “Mister”, she said, “Two years ago today I lost my husband of fifty-four years. You couldn’t have known that. But as I was on my way home, I real-ized that today is the first day since then that I’ve been able to laugh, and I just wanted to come back and say thank you.”
Jesus said that all those around us would know we are His disciples be-cause of our love. (John 13:35). There are lots of things we can give up for Lent to show our Lord that we appre-ciate His sacrifice for us. Maybe one thing I should give up is telling jokes in the newsletter. But, more than any-thing else, what I believe would make the Master the happiest, would be for us to give up anything and everything that would keep us from being His loving disciples to those around us. May this Lenten season be one of great meaning and spiritual growth for us all. See you in church.
God's Peace,
Jeff
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