Stiff!
It was 1968 and the “big guys,” David & Junior, two and four years my senior, had gone off to our elementary school yard for a softball game and I had been invited. I’ve never cared for baseball, but first I needed to go with my mom to buy some dungarees. We went to our usual store, Boel, on Moore St. Mom was upset at the price increase! We probably bought a pair of Mavericks for a whopping $1.66-outrages! It was “highway robbery,” we used to say! I asked mom, “So, how much do they usually cost?” She said something like $1.00 or $1.25. All I know is we went home and I changed and ran to the schoolyard.
Getting there was tougher than usual. The pants were stiff! These were tough denim, and this was before anyone thought of pre-washing them. Besides, I needed to get to the game. At the game, I didn’t do too well: I dropped a high-fly and I threw to the wrong base or didn’t tag a runner. It must’ve been the pants… As usual, David came over, put his arm around me and told me it was ok cause in the end, we won anyway. That was always David, sympathetic, compassionate.
One day, Jesus was on His way with many of His disciples to a city called Nain. Nearing the gate, of the city he saw….”a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, young man, I say unto thee, arise. And he that was dead sat up and began to speak, and he delivered him to his mother” (Luke 7:12-15).
I’m sure both mom and son, as well as everyone present had lots to talk about on their way home!
Like my friend David, Jesus had compassion on a ‘stiff’ and raised him from the dead. Sometimes we feel stiff, dead, unable to go on. Jesus, the life-giver, full of compassion calls us out. Allow Him to put His arm around you and tell you it’s okay. Let Him restore your life. And if you mess up a game, He’ll understand that it could’ve been the pants.
God Bless!
Sam