Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday February 29, 2008

Every now and then I get a letter or phone call that helps to recommit to this daily letter. The excerpt from a letter I received in response to Wednesday's letter "Courage In Human Packages" from Sue smith is a "letter in point." Courage In Human Packages was my comments on some of the people I met or noticed at the Ravenswood Baptist Church in Chicago.

To refresh your memory Joe is Joe Cooper, the man I wrote about back in the fall who several years woke up after sleeping by a garbage dumpster, walked to the Indianapolis Public Library asked, "Can anybody here teach me to read?" Joe’s story is told in the Indiana Author's 2007 series titled, "Inspiration From The Heartland," available from New Century Publishers. A great book.

As you know I send cases of literature into prisons and preach in them often. Read this note from Sue and learn the deep blessing of going to the prisoners as Jesus taught:

"Joe and I talked to an alternative school for boys last week and he had them eating out of his palm. Then, last Friday, on his 50th birthday!, we spoke at the women's prison at New York and Randolph. I was apprehensive but was so uplifted afterwards. The choir was tremendous and even I got a standing ovation just in introducing Joe. They were receptive, and so kind. Women of all ages, geriatric, pregnant, middle ages, 2 on death row, single, about 400 of them. These are women trying to get their lives back together. Some sat out there with tears streaming down their faces. But in their music they were set free! People do not realize that there is joy in giving, that you receive more than what you give to them. People like your pastor friend, and you too, my dear sir, are the jewels in this world that make the pieces of coal look good. Keep up your ministry. Sue"

When Israel was carried away captive the Bible says, "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" Psalms 137:1-4

As prisoners Israel had lost it all, they were captives, and the objects of ridicule, and their captors taunted them to "sing a song of deliverance" and then laughed at their calamity. It is much the same in all times and places as cruel hearted people make fun of the right or wrongful plight of captives. The haunting question; "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" can be answered by looking past the razor wire and iron bars and seeing with the eye of the heart, the city celestial as seen by Abraham and many others as they trudged on in spite of the apparent futility of life.

I teach people what I try to practice: When trouble comes in whatever form do NOT hang your harp on the willows, rather go ahead and sing the LORD'S song, as Charles Weigle wrote, "I sing of thee and smile through tears."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit

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