Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday November 16, 2007

For the better part of my life I have taught and practiced the principle of "Do it now" with the idea that we do not have the promise of tomorrow. Not an eat drink and be merry twist mind you, but there are so many good and neutral things I would like to do that can only be done in this Vale of Tears and most demand at least a modicum of youth, that time is marching on, so get with it now is a banner over my mind and heart.

This urgency of living came rushing off the page of an email sent out by Dr. Vanletloo in a quote:

"Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple."

Please understand, purple is NOT my color, though I do recall my high school colors were purple and gold. The point is I do not have to dress in some manner more suited to Mars, but I am eccentric in that I utterly detest neck ties and now that I am old and feeble I for the most part refuse to wear one. I refer to a story told about Mark Twain who had visited a house down the street for a literary meeting sans the tie. Mrs. Twain had a fit over this barbaric act by Mark, and so with Twainesque élan, he called a delivery boy, placed a tie in an appropriate box and sent it to the Lady of house with a note: "I was recently in your parlor with a group of refined ladies and Mrs. Twain is upset that you saw me without a tie. The enclosed is a nice one and I would appreciate it if you would look at it for 30 minutes as that was amount of time I spent in your lovely home. When you are finished please return it."

So much for neck ties!!

In my dotage I have found that leading with the "Warts and all" approach of Cromwell is best for me as I do not have to sit around and worry, "What do they think of me." It becomes obvious fast and this saves everyone time, which according to Ben Franklin is the essence or stuff of life.

And being a little eccentric is better than bland. Jesus told us that we are salt, and it is amazing what salt does to bland.

Years ago the old mountain preachers, bare knuckled to be sure, called the younger Christians, Cookie Cutter Christians. They meant that the Christians were so molded to some influential Christian leader that they spent their life imitating him or in a few cases, her. I do recall a six foot 3 inch man talking like Amy Semple McPherson. Today Joyce Meyer speaks more like an old mountain preacher than do many male preachers who went to college on a football scholarship. Perhaps they spent too much time with the cheerleaders.

A Rabbi is said to have answered the question, "Why do many Jews bob their head when praying?" The Rabbi said, "A very powerful Rabbi bobbed his head while praying." Because we do not know any of the physical mannerism of Christ, we are free to inculcate the spiritual qualities of the Savior without foolishly attempting to mimic mannerisms.

Today I have given the gift of my "purple" to you. Wear it with pride!!

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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