“She’s not”
Sometimes, economy of words speaks better and with greater effect than those volumes we highly recognize and prize (too bad we preachers forget that from time to time). “She’s not!” I guess that could be called three words, since there’s a contraction there, but the “word counter” on my computer counts it as two words. It reminds me of the story of President Calvin Coolidge (aka Silent Cal) who was at an evening dinner when the lady sitting next to him said, “I made a bet that I could get you to say more than two words.” To which Ole’ Silent Cal replied, “You lose.” (Coolidge denied the story). Nonetheless, it was jokingly said that the President was "silent in five languages." And he was a Christian who attended church. One reporter asked the President about the service he had just attended, specifically wondering what the minister preached on. “Sin” came back the answer. To which the reporter asked what the minister had said about sin. “He’s against it.” was the ever economical reply. Yes, Calvin Coolidge was a master regarding economy of words!
In 2 Corinthians 9:2 (KJV) Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church ”For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.” How about for the purpose of conversation we combine that provoking zeal of the Corinthians with 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”? Putting these two verses together, we get a combination of provoking zeal and a sounding out of faith that is spread abroad, and this combination seems to be of great effect to the very Apostle who spent his life provoking, instructing and encouraging others. The encourager was encouraged, the provoker was provoked unto good works, and the teacher’s own lessons were reinforced in the most positive way.
When I spoke to Ruth on the phone to offer my sympathies and condolences to her regarding of the passing of her sister, a strong Christian herself, I used the words “I’m sorry.” And with an economy of words that would have left Silent Cal flabbergastered, Ruth replied “She’s not.” No, Mary had suffered long and hard, was fully assured of her “absent from the body present with the LORD” position, and as Ruth so eloquently and efficiently relayed to me, she was not sorry in the least to move on to indescribably better times. Yes, Ruth preached a tremendous two word sermon.
“She’s not!” Amen!
Love and Prayers to you all,
Pastor
Comments