For class last week, we talked about funerals among other things. We were tasked with a two page funeral homily. Here is the first first. Names have been reduced to initials in the interest of privacy.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Today, we gather to celebrate the life and ministry of the Rev Dr. J. R T.. J. joined the Church Triumphant Monday afternoon. You may wonder about the choice of text for our thoughts today. J. has graced this pulpit on and off for almost 50 years. Most often, he stuck with the lectionary. Tomorrow’s lectionary readings include our text for today. The first nugget we can pull from Paul’s comments to his challenging church is that God graces people with different gifts. Often, we look at this text with the idea that one person has one gift and no other. I remember a conversation with J. a number of years back when we talked about the gifts of the Spirit. This was back during the time of the Charismatic Movement in the church beyond the traditionally charismatic groups. “I have looked over that list many times. I prayed that I might have wisdom.” J. was able to use his wisdom in many ways over the years for, as the scripture says, “the common good.” During the time he served on the national board of the ABC:USA, he was able to help craft the office statement about the terrible decisions to be made around the subject of abortion. The bottom line was that the decision was terrible enough without the condemnation from the society. Let the people most intimately involved make the decision within the circle of their medical and spiritual advisors. That wording in a similar form remains to this day.
Traditionally, we tend to lock one person into one gift for a lifetime. We can call this the “Single Tool Teaching.” I prefer to think of the gifts of the Spirit as a tool belt rather than a single item. Paul writes “All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” Now, before we try to match something from J.’s life with each of these gifts, keep in mind that I may stretch a traditional interpretation and leave out a few details here and there. Remember, our purpose is not to try to make J. into a saint. We all know he could be a curmudgeon on occasion, and I prefer “single minded” to “stubborn.”
J. spent over 30 years on staff at Rocky Mountain College as an administrator and a teacher, sharing knowledge with generations of students eager to learn about the inner workings of the mind. What does it mean to have the gift of faith? J. & B. raised seven children during their time here at the Church. It must take great faith to raise seven children on a private college salary. He told me, during his time as dean of the college, he once or twice mailed paychecks on Friday, praying with great faith in God’s grace, that they would be good on Monday. His faith was bruised but not destroyed when he buried his wife of well over 50 years and a son within 12 months of each other. Healing is not an easy one to frame, but I could introduce you to Rocky students whose belief in themselves was healed because J. told them how much he believed in them. According to one junior high math teacher, “I never would have finished college if it had not been for J. T..” I know this is pushing it, but during a period of time, Rocky was the most diverse campus in our city giving J. the opportunity to listen to “tongues” of culture far from those of his nature West Virginia. Some students were from far across the sea and others from far across the cultural divides with our own country. They all learned to speak to common language of love and affirmation in J.’s office as he helped them sort out the intricacies of their transcripts and their lives. Moving on to discernment of spirits reminds me of the time when J. saw through the spirit behind the controlling attitude of one of the athletic coaches at the college. The coach demanded that the men on the team all shave clean, like the coach. J. saw the spirit behind the demand and stood with the students. When he did, he sacrificed at least for a time, the only cue most people used to know him from his twin brother John, who also taught at the college. Let me end with the gift of prophecy seeing the truth in God’s people. I know how many lives were impacted by J. and B.’s love and generosity as they spoke God’s word into many situations. One of their grandchildren, the one we heard on the violin earlier, grew in his craft because J. saw the potential and made sure he got the instrument he needed to continue his growth. J. saw the importance a Peace Studies program would make here in our city to equip others with the tools to prophecy peace. He spent many retirement hours volunteering to see this life changing program established a solid footing. I know that if he were here today, he would be embarrassed to be the center of attention. He would blush and maybe wipe a tear from his good eye and say “I just did what the good Lord put in front of me.” That is the lesson we need to take away from today and from J.’s life. No matter what life and the good Lord put in our paths, we can take the wonderful tool belt given by the Holy Spirit and find a way to bring joy to God’s heart and glory to God’s name, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen.
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