Steph’s Stuff 09-20-13 (Hallelujah, I’m a Bum) A man who remembers songs I don’t even believe existed until he asks me if I remember them regularly serenades me. At 98, Bill’s Hit Parade is not something everyone knows about—but when I ‘Google’ those songs and find them on YouTube, I’m amazed and delighted. Anyone who thinks hanging out with 98 year olds is boring doesn’t know Bill! My hit parade has expanded exponentially. In fact, I’ve even found a few BILL forgot about! Ahhh, the pleasures of the Internet. The technology of smart phones. Watching the look on Bill’s face when I surprise him with songs and movies and other memorabilia is worth the hard days when we struggle. One of the ways we struggle, on a regular basis, is the on-going need for Bill to work. He still wants to climb up on the roof. He wants to work on his huge yard, killing weeds and planting flowers. In truth, at 98, just getting out of bed is a major, sometimes exhausting accomplishment. But he is of a generation that knows you have to work—to eat. “Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (MSG) Bill doesn’t EVER want to be accused of being a lazy good-for-nothing! He is not. He never has been—and he never will be. My job is to remind him that his work is different these days. His work is to impart the wisdom of his years to those of us who are hungry to hear it. His work is to make us smile—and inspire us as we see that being 98 isn’t a whole lot different than being 18—or 48… He has the same feelings he did at those ages. He still has a need for love—and as a man of his generation, he has a need to work. But when we listen to the song ‘Hallelujah, I’m a Bum’, we smile. The scratchy background melody of an old record brings a song to Bill’s face. He sings along with gusto—and looks at me to make sure I’m ‘getting it’. I do get it. Hallelujah, I’M a bum! I can never work my way into heaven—and God still loves me. Bill can’t weed his yard or put up the storm windows—but he still has a vital place in the lives of many people. Thank You, Lord. You have given me a life that reminds me that no matter what the circumstances, You don’t see Bill and me as bums. Help us to get that message out to people who think they are. Thank you for the words that brought smiles to the faces of our audience at the Mission last night. I think of the word ‘handout’. It has a negative connotation these days—implying that we’re asking for free goodies. We don’t want to work for them. But that isn’t the only thing a handout is about. It also means a hand UP—to get someone back to the place where they CAN work—because someone cared enough to remind them they have value. Hallelujah, give us a handout—to revive us again! Fondly, Stephanie youtube/watch?v=8uKbIkYGsIg
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:20:04 +0000
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