SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2008

THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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Dear Friends in Our Lord Jesus:

A dozen years ago, a colleague of mine told a story about a young student who had a remarkable influence on her sorority sisters.

The story began one evening as six young women sat down to dinner in the college cafeteria. It was the beginning of the semester, and they were just getting to know each other. Five of the students began eating immediately, while one bowed her head and silently said grace. As she prayed, the others began to laugh. When the silent prayer was finished, she asked the others in a pleasant voice, "Why were you laughing?"

"You know," one of them responded, nudging the others and mimicking her prayer posture.

"Aren't you thankful?" the praying student asked in some disbelief. "Aren't you thankful for all of THIS?"

"Thankful for what?" one replied. "For this food? We paid for this food, and we're going to eat it!"

"But where did you get the money to pay for the food?" the praying student continued, prompting an immediate reply: "From our parents."

"But where did your parents get the strength to work for their money?" the young girl persisted. "Where do you think all of this comes from, anyway? Who do you think is responsible for EVERYTHING we have -- our food, our health, our parents' health? Just WHO do you think is REALLY responsible?"

The remainder of the meal was eaten mostly in silence. And then an amazing thing happened. The next evening, two other girls joined in the mealtime prayer. And by the end of the week, all six of them were giving thanks to God. The other sorority sisters realized -- for the first time -- that even if they prayed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they wouldn't have enough time to thank God for all His countless blessings.

As it was for them, so it is for us.

-- The Very Rev. Dr. Steve Sellers +