Pastor Ponderings – August
10 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
Albert Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, the professor reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there either, so he checked his briefcase, but still couldn’t locate it. He examined the seat beside him, but it wasn’t to be found.
The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the renowned physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for the still missing ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, “Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are. There’s not a problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.” The professor looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”
David Noreen writes in Senior Lifestyles that Billy Graham was asked to attend a special luncheon given by the local municipality to celebrate his 90th birthday. He attended in a new suit. He began by telling the Einstein story and then said, “My children and grandchildren are telling me that I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and for one more occasion.”
Graham looked intently at those gathered. “You is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this …,” and he said: “I not only know who I am…I also know where I’m going.”
It seems to me that it is all too easy to lose track of whom we are and where we are headed just now. The world moves ever more swiftly while we slow down a bit more every year. We must choose to work with technology regularly or lose our ability to keep up. Television remotes of today are more complicated than any toy I had as a child. They now do more than my first computer! Fixing a modern automobile requires computer help and (almost) a PhD!
Interpersonal dynamics have changed. The old fashioned idea of dropping by has all but disappeared. Facebook has replaced it for many of the Boomers. Families live farther and farther apart. The hard thing is that none of this is new to our generation. We know what is going on; we do not know how to deal with it.
Fortunately, faith does not change. Worship trends come and go, but God is the One who remains constant. God knows who we are. God has a place for us. It is this basic faith-relationship that provides a foundation for knowing whose we are – as well as where we are going.
…Tracie
