ÿþ <html> <head> <title>Welcome to First United Methodist Church, El Dorado, AR,  A Christian s Character; the Spirit s Fruit Part 5, Kindness and goodness </title><!--- July 4, 2010 --> <meta name="description" content="First United Methodist church, El Dorado, AR, FUMC, F.U.M.C. First Church, First Methodist, Methodist John Wesley, Methodist, United Methodist Youth, United Methodist women" /> <meta name="keywords" content="First United Methodist church, El Dorado, AR, FUMC, F.U.M.C. 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One of our family tall tales is that I started reading at the age of 3, which I am pretty sure is not true but something that can start conversations at dinner parties. I have always loved to read and write, and one of my favorite authors to read and emulate at a young age was Shel Silverstein. He wrote these long volumes of poetry with outlandish characters and childish yet wise themes. He is most famous for his volume entitled <u>Where the Sidewalk Ends</u> however there is one book that he wrote that has made its way into many of our libraries and that is <u>The Giving Tree</u>. Are you all familiar with this book? For those of you who have not had the chance to read this book I will give you a quick summary. The book starts with these words: (read first few pages) and as the story between the tree and the boy that she loves and lover her back we watch as he comes back as a teenager and she gives him all of her apples so that he can sell them and begin to make his way in the world. Then he returns as a young adult with a new young family, looking for help to build a home and so she gives him all of her branches. He returns again as an older adult desiring a boat to get away from a life that he has lost control over and so the tree gives his her trunk. Finally as an old man, he returns and knowing that he is seeking something the tree tells him this (read the last selection from the book). </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> As I grew up reading this book the story found within its pages became sadder and sadder: A tree that gave her entire being, all that she had for the well being of the one that she loved. This story has been critiqued on many levels from criticizing it s unrealistic call on caretakers to its anti-environment bent to its out of reach expectations set on what it means to love someone. And to be honest as I read this text and see the tree giving and giving and boy only taking I cannot help be finish these last pages with a bitter taste in my mouth. The relationship that is held up in this classic children s book is not only unrealistic but dangerous, however it is a mentality that many of us find ourselves in today. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> This morning as we take a look at the fruits of the spirit,  kindness and goodness , we must look deeply into what our ideas of what it means to be kind and good are and how they measure up to god s gifts of kindness and goodness in our own lives. So much of the time when we pursue our own ideas of kindness we end up in a dangerous place, where we feel like we must give and give and never receive. I know that I am not alone in my trouble finding a balance between giving and receiving, time for other and time for myself. I was able to attend a retreat earlier this week at Subiaco Abbey with other residents of the ordination process in the United Methodist church. One of our sessions focused on maintaining a holy healthy balance in our lives. Each of us was called on to name one area of improvement that we desire in our lives that would enrich our health. Almost every one of our answers focused on this idea of how we balance our lives of service with our own personal needs. The thing is, pastors are not alone in this struggle. Each of us struggle with the guilt of not being kind enough, giving enough, good enough. We may spend days or weeks caring for our families or those we love and then feel guilty when we take a day away for ourselves. I cannot help but think that these expectations that we place upon ourselves are unrealistic and as we take a look at our scripture today I think this will become clear. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> Throughout the New Testament we receive lists of characteristics and traits that a Christian should possess. Before we look into the other places that we discover kindness and goodness as part of these lists of characteristics lets first review the list we are focusing on, the fruits of the spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23 </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> <i>By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.</i> </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> The fruits of the spirit found in Galatians serve as one of these lists of characteristics of a Christian and while we are focusing on this one in particular for these weeks, I would like to point out that kindness and goodness make their way onto almost all of the lists. One such list can be found in 2nd Peter. As the writer of second Peter begins to explain the dangers of false teachings (does this ring any bells? It was false teachings being written against in Galatians as well) so, as the writer begins his letter he first explains to the churches what true people of God look like and he wrote these words, "<i>For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection (kindness), and mutual affection (kindness) with love."</i> There is an important line a couple of sentences up however, that give us an even more complete view into where these characteristics come from: verse 3 reads: 3 God s divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. The goodness that we gain through our Christian lives is not our own to possess and create. Thus this sacrificial balance that we attempt to create, where we feel like we must give and give and for some reason feel guilty when we receive, is not ours to maintain. While we are blessed to possess and spread the goodness and kindness of God we must understand that it comes directly from God and is thus divine. And so, while we act in kind and good ways, we must remember one crucial thing: we are not God. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> I am sorry to break this to you all but it is also takes the pressure off. Since we are not God we cannot serve with kindness and goodness in the same way that god can. God gives without ever diminishing who god is. God has the ability, through infinite power and love, to show kindness and goodness to us all without weakening. This is important, because we can t do the same. We cannot give and give to others, believing that it is our call as Christians, and not diminish ourselves and weaken our bodies. Just as the tree in shel silversteins book becomes smaller and smaller, weaker and weaker as she gives to the boy, we too must understand that if we only give kindness and goodness but not open ourselves up to receive it we will become smaller and weaker. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> Jesus gives us the perfect example of what this means in our lives. In the gospel of Matthew chapter 14 we read of the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 people who had come to hear him preach and teach the word of God. However after this incredible act of kindness and goodness Jesus dismisses the crowd and heads off to a mountain top to take time for himself. Let me read the last few scriptures of this passage to you,  21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Jesus, fully human and fully divine, after time spent spreading kindness and goodness to others took time for himself. What an incredible example for us to follow in our lives. Knowing that we must understand that we are human and while kindness and goodness are important parts of our call, so is taking time away, opening ourselves up to the goodness and kindness of others so that while we give we can also receive. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> Shel Silverstein wrote another book, a little lesser known, but just as good as the giving tree. I would like to read that book to you this morning. </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> (read: Who wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?) </font></p> <p align="left"><font face="verdana" size="2"> This is a different story than the one between the boy and the tree, in this story the rhinoceros is able to give to the boy but also receive from the boy. The rhinoceros is able to show kindness and goodness while never diminishing who he is, he maintains he wholeness while serving in the ways that he is most able. He is a good battleship but hates baths; he is good to sit on, but not so good when he sits on you. People, we are not God which means that while we get to demonstrate the kindness and goodness that come from a close relationship with god, we cannot do so endlessly and without tiring. And this is a good think; because it means that we take time for ourselves and also that we get to receive kindness and goodness from others. So today, while we lift up the fruits of the spirit of kindness and goodness may we do so not in the spirit of a tree, where we can end up giving and giving and never receiving, but instead in the spirit of the rhinoceros, understanding who we are and remaining whole and strong while spreading the gift of God s kindness and goodness throughout the world. Amen. </font></p> <br><br> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> <TABLE width=800 border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <TR bgcolor="#d8d2d8"> <TD width=800 valign="baseline" bgcolor="#d8d2d8" align=right> <!--- beige F2F2E6 ----> <font face="verdana" color="#000000" size="1"> This site designed and maintained by <a href="http://www.hipdogwebdesign.com">HipDog Web Design&reg;</a><br> Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved.</TD> <TD width="19%">&nbsp;</TD> </TR> </TABLE> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>