Three Steps Back, or Was It Four? We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:2 Before my voice changed, I was told I had the voice of an angel. I sang solos in all the school and church musicals. My favorite was walking a cute girl around the stage in third grade, holding her hand with an umbrella, singing “April Showers.” One year, around the third grade, I got a lot of laughs in one musical, and it wasn’t even a comedy. We had lined up to sing our parts for the song “The Nights of Hanukkah.” We were to sing our part and gently tap the candle, and it would turn on. When we all sang, we were to take four steps back, and the curtain would close. Well it was all done, and I took my three steps back, or did they say four? The curtain was closed, and there I was alone on stage. I ran back and forth looking for a way in and finally did a headfirst slide under the curtain. The crowd went wild with laughter and applause. The music teacher wasn’t laughing. She was serious; she was crying. That night performance was the second and final performance for the parents with Mom and Dad front and center. The music teacher told me five steps this time. She was sure of a great performance. I sang my part, tapped my candle, tapped it again, and again, and swung it. I looked at my dad. He made a twisting motion with his hand. I turned the light by the bulb, and it went on. The place was roaring with laughter. I looked back. My music teacher was crying again. Well the good news is I took five steps back without incident. There is a lighted sign on the church next to mine. The letters light up sometimes saying “This is the Perfect Church for Imperfect People.” I told one of the elders I should go there; he assures me I am in the right place, that all churches are perfect churches for imperfect people. As a person, I stumble, fumble, and fall. I make mistakes and have temptations. I have not become perfect. I am perfect and righteous before my Father only because of Jesus’ sacrifice. God knows me and knows I am not perfect. When I was in the Catholic seminary in the eighties, I had a spiritual director named Father McGovern, who told me the only thing I will do perfectly is be perfectly human with all the mistakes, frailties, and fumbles humans make. No need to cry, Ms. Whateveryournamewas. Progress is essential. Perfect was crucified. God knows when we are trying. He knows our hearts. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and obey God’s commands. We need to keep living life to the best of our ability, asking God daily for strength, wisdom, and direction. Take an extra step back if you need to and twist the light. God won’t cry.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 08:05:33 +0000
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