May 23, 1993
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DENTON, TEXAS

JOHN M. BUCHANAN
CuHrIcaGo, ILLINOIS

THERE MUST_BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN
=a

PARTICIPATING IN THE BAPTISM OF ONE’S
Lee
GRANDCHILDREN BUT FOR THE LIFE OF ME I
Ss
CAN'T THINK WHAT IT MIGHT ee.\\ Ano SO,
eee
ONCE AGAIN, I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
fc

PEOPLE OF THIS CONGREGATION, AND THEIR

PASTOR, FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEGE

AFFORDED ME THIS MORNING, =
% — OV \ ue el \eEvau \. DS RMAX

L
AND BEYOND THIS MORNING, I AM ~*~
= a

ak n.d

POIANA THAD

GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR BEING THE CHURCH FOR ilies the. Bs 3
exegee Sy

THOSE GRANDCHILDREN. | It’s WHAT IS
== eo

UNIQUE UE ABOUT PRESBYTERIAN BAPTISM\WHAT
OTHER TRADITIONS CALL GODPARENTS, IN

PRESBYTERIAN Iles A CONGREGATION. \ You
ERTANS Seas

ARE ALL CAROLYN'S GODPARENTS}\\ AUNTS,
= =

UNCLES, GRANDPARENTS. \You PROMISE TO BE

THE CHURCH FOR HER: \ To PROVIDE CHRISTIAN
ie d nucterc Sey
EDUCATION Gime RMS AND VALUES AND TO

BE A COMMUNITY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR
HER.

I’M GRATEFUL FOR Hat [ano FOR THIS
WONDERFUL REVILEGE TO BE- WITH YOU
rears me ¢ BEEN A SPEC T TO
GET TO et meg

<=

EVIDENCE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND FAITH

Sz
AND JOY IS ALL AROUND THIS PLACE. om
32 crf =
Cs Weppy + Proswrd
We feel a feet CONWECR Wuyi
prcqiAor
X bus dn,

YOV +) Quatre Ws qood +o see Gr sounds Cae .

Germs + Te celui’
“Si Focelwae- catia leadel,
dwise Ww RUA Vi pute

Wams (ceed - bie 20 & abt
4 Ww

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
IsaraH 58:6-9
MATTHEW 5:13-16

———¥ Text: "You ARE THE LIGHT OF THE

WORLD. -\-ter YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE
ee

OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD
WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO YOUR FATHER IN
HEAVEN." -MATTHEW 5:14,16 (NRSV)

EVERY YEAR OF MY YOUTH, DURING THE
Cd —

FIRST WEEKS OF JUNE, I WAS SHIPPED OFF
De |

TO DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT THE

FIRS

FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SUMMER VACATION AND
THUS PROVIDED A BLESSED TRANSITION
<=xhiercen
PERIOD FOR MOTHERS ABQUL,TO CONFRONT THE
STARK REALITY OF CHILDREN AT HOME FOR
EERO ee )
THREE MONTHS.
f
Our PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DIDN'T GO

IN FOR THINGS LIKE BIBLE Schoo. \ano EVEN

IF IT DID, IT PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE
COMPETED WITH THE BAPTISTS WHO WERE
==> Loma ay
LIVELY AND INVENTIVE TO SAY THE LEAST!
=== bo ee RE TT
WE SAW PUPPET SHOWS OF THE RESUR-
ESS SS
RECTION,\ FLANNEL GRAPHS OF JESUS _WALKING
Seria
ON WATER AND PETER srnkrne,\THERE WERE
ee Seay ca
BRASS QUARTETS AND PIANO DUETS, [AND
ih Se Sy
CRAFT TIME-IN WHICH YOU COULD BURN THE
CROSS OF JESUS INTO A BLOCK OF SOFT PINE
SS a ee

WOOD AND THEN PAINT IT gotp,\anp = wel

ee
TURE MEMORIZATION CONJESTS WITH PRIZES.

AND THE MUSIC...
— Cr GOT THE Joy, Joy, Joy,

DEEP IN MY HEART" -
exes ( "Do Lorp, OH Do Lorp, OH Do

REMEMBER Me"

"WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN Jesus"

"THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE"
SS

ed “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE,

I'm GONNA LET IT SHINE.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE,
I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE, LET IT
SHINE.

LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE.
acer

"HIDE IT UNDER A BUSHEL, No!
= Sey

I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE.
Ey

HIDE IT UNDER A BUSHEL, No!
Se

I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE, LET IT

SHINE.
aE
LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE."
‘ 4 ANP AAC é
The ogee ky a

YOU EVER SANG THAT sone, \rF YOU WERE
ze

SHIPPED OUT TO DAILY VACATION BIBLE
mere

Rn
~ 6% De SCHOOL WHERE YOU SANG IT, YOU'RE GOING
Wh M TO BE HUMMING IT ALL DAY - ASe=d=-ee@BWEN
SS ==
H UMM GrtedaTeelh bel eeenlal Silla

THE RELEVANCE OF THAT LITTLE SONG
ey Saas
IS THAT IT FAITHFULLY ADDRESSES, IN

ASE SST

SIMPLE AND CLEAR TERMS, A PROBLEM THAT
RSS les, aay

HAS EXISTED FOR THE FRIENDS AND FOLLOW-
SS Se

ERS OF JESUS FoR 2,000 eas: | NAMELY THE
ee ee ed

TEMPTALION TO RETREAT EROM, |wrTHDRAW

From, \eack AWAY FROM, TURN YOUR BACK ON,
—_— =e

pee MEET

THE WORLD, IN HIS NAME AND FOR HIS SAKE,

ee =e
IT IS PERHAPS THE MOST PERSISTENT
ey Eee

HERESY, THROUGHOUT CHRISTIAN HISTORY: ° swe

THE NOTION THAT IN ORDER TO BE FAITHFUL
LY (Gar
TO JESUS YOU HAVE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE

WORLD; | THE NOTION THAT THE RELIGIOUS
we

LIFE IS AN INTENTIONALLY QTHER-WORLDLY

LrFe;\anp THAT WHATEVER ELSE CHRISTIANS
ARE ABOUT THEY CERTAINLY DON'T GO AROUND
Be

CALLING ATTENTION TO rwensenves;| ryat
— La

(HiprNngA

BUSHEL IS PROPERLY MODEST AND eases RT
ATELY HUMBLE. | THERE IS EVEN A THEOLOGY
a a

fi ———

HATEVER LIGHT YOU HAVE UNDER THE

OF WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WORLD.
=o
ROBERT FARAR CAPON, A WITTY EPISCO-
be a a iY
PAL THEGLOGIAN WRITES:
Bn]

granny
“THERE IS A HABIT THAT PLAGUES MANY SO-

=
t FHAT MATTER AND SPIRIT ARE SOMEHOW AT
bn =z

CALLED SPIRITUAL wayos;\ rHev IMAGINE
Ee

ODDS WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT THE RIGHT
=a =p
COURSE FOR HUMAN LIFE IS TO ESCAPE FROM

SS aR ae
THE WORLD INTO SOME FINER AND purer (ano
——— eae orareeg
UNDOUBTEDLY DULLER)JREALM. ... THAT IS A
= [ comeeesiceet

CRASHING MrsTAKE.\ It WAS GOD_WHO_ IN-
fy

( “¥)
VENTED (THE WORLD)... GOD WHO AT THE END
———————— — ——=5
OF EACH DAY OF CREATION PRONOUNCED A

=
esounpzne CGo001) \ Anp IT Is Gop's

UNRELENTING LOVE OF ALL THE STUFF OF
— Sp

THIS WORLD THAT KEEPS IT IN BEING AT

EVERY MOMENT." [THE SUPPER OF THE

LAMB, XII]
JESUS WAS CLEAR ABOUT at.\ THe WAY

MATTHEW TELLS THE STORY, THE FIRST THING
ere | ey

JESUS DID TO GET HIS WORK STARTED WAS
Sy == ae

RECRUIT A BAND OF FOLLOWERS, TAKE THEM
aS

SSS ee
UP ONTO A MOUNTAIN, SIT DOWN IN THEIR
SSS / a

MIDST, IN THE CLASSIC POSTURE OF RABBI
a= Se SD era

AND STUDENT, AND TEACH THEM WHAT HE WAS

= il aie
ABOUT _AND WHAT HE WAS INVITING THEM TO
DO.

THE FIRST THING HE SAYS TO THEM,
eS EES
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW, IS A SERIES OF
= SSS
STATEMENTS THAT ARE STUNNING AND RADI-

CAL.\ WE KNOW THEM AS THE BEATITUDES:

Cee
"BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT.
=== SE ay
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, THE HUNGRY,
THE PURE IN HEART, THE PEACE MAKERS,
eee ss ED

THE PERSECUTED."
R= Sa

THOSE STATEMENTS ARE SO VERY DIF-

SSS ay
FERENT FROM THE WAY THINGS ACTUALLY ARE,
THAT THE NATURAL RESPONSE TO THEM -

a
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK...THE PEACEMAKERS -

=
Gs) "on YEAH? \Nor IN THIS WORLD. ..MAYBE
eo SS ey

IN SOME OTHER WORLD...IN HEAVEN
eee ===

MAYBE...OR SOME ISOLATED PLACE OUT IN
Sag

THE WILDERNESS...BUT NOT IN THIS WORLD
ne

ay
ARE THE MEEK AND POOR AND HUNGRY
es Sh Ss

iii
BLESSED. THE FIRST AND MOST NATURAL

RESPONSE TO JESUS WAS THE ASSUMPTION
ee eae

THAT HE WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO WITHDRAW
FROM THE WORLD. \ Trere IS SCHOLARLY
eer (CEE

8

SPECULATION THAT THE DISCIPLES ALWAYS
CY =e —
THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA - NAMELY, A
{c. FE ‘ake
KIND OF MONASTIC COMMUNITY IN THE DESERT
Pe
WITH JESUS AS ITS LEADER WHERE THEY
eee se

COULD TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND LIVE
ere

LIKE HE WANTED THEM TO Live; \roauzug THE
ar EE.

OTHER cHEEK, \LoviNG NEIGHBOR AS SELF,
oe 60 lol (Gl
FORGIVING. \ THERE - ISOLATED FROM ALL THE
Dee ee |
AMBIGUITIES OF HUMAN LIFE, \ THINGS LIKE
EARNING A LIVING, |PAYING Biiis,( MAKING
LOVE,| HAVING ganres, | opevzNs Laws, \rHe
ay CT

TRUE AND CHRISTIAN LIFE COULD BE LIVED

=e @£ £=£@2 28 0) «eens
FAITHFULLY.4 OR IF THAT IS NOT PRACTI-
err eet oT

CAL, THE TRUE AND CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A
— ed

MATTER OF THE HEART,\AN INTERNAL, INYZS-
—o q cums ' \, <==

IBLE THING, A MATTER OF PERSONAL SPIRIT-
UALITY.

SO THE VERY NEXT THING JESUS SAYS

SARE ao
TO HES NEW FOLLOWERS - AFTER HE HAD TOLD
Pd

THEM HOW BLESSED IT IS TO BE POOR, MEEK,

HUNGRY AND PURE OF HEART - IS TO GO
—_ —ee ey

PUBLIC WITH IT. 4 Come out wire oy You
oe
ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH! EVEN MORE
ee a

. wt
DRAMATIC IN TERMS OF VISIBILITY? YOU ARE

—— eee
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; |No ONE AFTER
Sree a
LIGHTING A LAMP PUTS IT UNDER A BUSHEL.
ee ee

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE THAT THEY MAY
eee

SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GIVE GLORY TO
Seo (ll TTL

a3
Gop.

THERE ARE LIBRARIES WRITTEN ABOUT
eqn

THOSE TWO METAPHORS AND A FLOOD OF

SERMONIC WORDS INVESTED IN them. \ NoT [ce
SEE

SIMPLY rie (ance) \ saux AND LIGHT DO
-_ =n

NOT EXIST FOR THemseLves. \ EACH TAKES ON
oe

eee KE

ITS ESSENTIAL NATURE WHEN INTERACTING
Sl TE

WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. 4 IN A SENSE, SALT
EE a

BECOMES SALT WHEN IT GOES TO WORK AND
‘ee =

STARTS CHANGING WHATEVER IT TOUCHES -
eer

ee
PRESERVING, CLEANSING, SEASONING, FERTI-
iain “al geCEEEey aeons oe

LIZING. } LIGHT 1S ONLY LIGHT AGAINST
—E. Deere

SOME BACKGROUND OF DARKNESS.

10

IN REALITY, HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL
——!,,
FREQUENTLY PERSUADED THAT REAL RELIGION
% ™ q ——
- AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY - 1S MORE A
ns =
MATTER OF PERSONAL, PRIVATE _SPIRITUALI-
querer sme
TY. \"WHAT I BELIEVE IS BETWEEN GOD AND
W Lh r iF

ME. RELIGION AND POLI[TZCS DON'T MIX.
"MY FAITH IS LIKE A QUIET REFUGE AWAY
FROM THE NOZSE OF LIFE."

THE LATE Hugy T. KERR, EDITOR OF

THEOLOGY TODAY, WAS WORKING ON A_BQOK

ABOUT CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY WHEN HE
Bd
F
ozen.\ He NOTED THAT THERE’S A STRONG
APPEAL TO PRIVATE SPIRITUALITY, THE
EAL TE ORITUALITY, THE

NOTION THAT WE NEED FIRST TO GET INTO

ae] be Ty
GURSELVES, [ro EXPLORE OUR OWN INTERIORS,
Cd eaeiamasedl

AND THAT IN ORDER TO bo THAT WE MUST GET
| eamiaeaenitiamaeed

AWAY FROM THE WORLD, So RETREAT CENTERS
emus are

ARE FULLY BooKen,| SHELVES ARE FULL OF

TITLES ON HOW TO GET INTO YOURSELF,! HOW
amma AAT

TO MEDITATE, HOW TO LEARN _FROM THE

MYSTICS AND GURUS. \HoW TO DEAL WITH
ee 8 8=«6ge oEtEE,

11

YOUR PERSONAL DEMONS AND ADDICTIONS AND
SED be]
DEPENDENCIES.
=e,
THERE 1S, OF COURSE, IMPORTANT
——— CT
TRUTH HERE.\ THERE IS SPIRIT, SOUL, IN
eo —— ——
EACH OF US WHICH MAY BE LARGELY UNEX-
pLoreD.\ THERE IS, I HAVE COME TO BE-
a Ee
LIEVE BECAUSE I HAVE WITNESSED IT $0
ie
MANY TIMES A SPIRITUAL REALITY, A
RNS
DEPTH, A BEAUTY, THAT GOES UNREALIZED,
a [i
UNRECOGNIZED, UNAPPRECTATFD, IN MOST OF
Ped
uS. | UPWARDLY MOBILE, HARD WORKING, TYPE
Bane] ee
ToS rnn
A, Wieage CHRISTIANS ARE MOSTLY TOO BUSY
is —=—
TO DEAL WITH MATTERS OF THE SPIRIT. | se
YES, THERE IS A LOT TO BE LEARNED AND
fom enum BY
GAINED BY ACKNOWLEDGING OUR OWN INTERNAL
P| Dei] eel

REALITIES, AND MAKI IME FOR THE
=e

EXPLORATION AND INTENTIONALLY PULLING

BACK FROM THE TENSION AND PR R D
K STON, ESSURE AN
UNRELENTING DRIVE IN ORDER TO GET AC-
SR

QUAINTED WITH OUR OWN SOUL.
fe titres

12

BUT THAT IS ONLY HAL UTH AND

LEFT UNCORRECTED LEADS TO A CHRISTIANITY

ISOLATED FROM AND IRRELEVANT TO THE LIFE
eee is ETE

%
WE HQ@aM LIVES MOST OF THE TIME. } “You
Cad CEERI

=_
ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD... LET YOUR
LIGHT SO SHINE.” | Tae OTHER HALF OF THE
ecm | ine |
TRUTH IS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS FOLLOWED
ah Cd ——
IN THE WORLD, THAT ACTS OF COMPASSION
Pe | ne)
AND MERCY AND JUSTICE IN THE WORLD ARE
Bese ee
THE WAYS HIS FRIENDS LIVE OUT THEIR
eS eS Mo nce mand oh tn

FAITH AND THAT YoU AND I BECOME FULLY
ech a

HUMAN AND FULLY CHRISTIAN AS WE LIVE

OUT, IN THE WORLD, WHAT WE BELIEVE AND
eum ed quire
WHO WE ARE IN OUR HEARTS.
AND THERE IS HERE A CLEAR DIRECTION
ane,
FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS currsr. | WE
EXIST FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD. \a
eee Da

CHURCH THAT DOES NOT DEFINE ITS LIFE IN
| ee

TERMS OF THE WORLD AROUND It IS As

a
IRRELEVANT AS A CANDLE ON A BRIGHT SUNNY
Sg Srurireere rerrrerst birdie pr rere tetramers
AFTERNOON, JOR SALT WHICH NEVER TOUCHES
See qn Ban

13

ANYTHING. \ ciurcn PEOPLE ARE INCLINED TO

THINK THAT MISSION PROGRAMS OF_ CARING

AND HELPING AND ADVOCATING ARE EXTRA-
=e

CURRICULAR, ADD-ON OPTIONS AFTER YOU
SS SSE

aes
HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ELSE. UT HERE
SS eS
JESUS IS SAYING THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL

NATUREOF THE CHURCH HAS TO DO WITH

BEING SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD.
oe CC Se

. RB=SOp—= Se -WE HAVE THOUGH TF “ABOUT

oes

HOMmGEFROUF—FOMBE| SALT AND LIGHT...TO
— —= =a Sass

CHANGE, PRESERVE, SEASON \ro ILLUMINATE
sme > GEE £§ £x====»

=e

AND CLARIFY, AND TO MAKE SAFE AND BRIGHT
ws ae

SOMETHING OF THE_WORLD GOD HAS CALLED US

TO LOVE - AND FERTILIZE. \ LEONARD SWEET

7 ——— ————s

SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF

SALT IN THE ANCIENT WORLD WAS TO FERTI-
SSS a EEN

ess

LIZE ACIDIC SOIL...AND THAT THAT'S WHAT
a | Sa

14

ALLL

THE CHURCH SHOULD BE ABOUT; A PROVOCA-
Wee ETEK

TIVE metapnor! \ Tr REMINDS ME OF SOME-
‘epi

THING MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID ABOUT PREACH-

[ee EEE
ERS: | NAMELY, THAT THEY'RE A LOT LIKE

Bind [Ee
MANURE; \GET THEM TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE

AND THEY RAISE A STINK,

BUT SPREAD OUT
bn

€
OF GCOD.
EOE

SO THE VIABILITY AND FAITHFULNESS
EE Pn

OF THE CHURCH MAY ALWAYS BE MEASURED BY
_ —

THE EFFECT - THE FORCE OF ITS PRESENCE -

ON THE LAND THEY DO
cum

THE SALTINESS OF ITS MINISTRY ~ THE
Sc

“THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE,
I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE..."

WHO ME? \ my LITTLE Lent? \ WHat IF
==

[Ee 0 Oe
I DON'T HAVE ANY? \ WHAT IF I FEEL Like I
[Ee ap

NEED SOME LIGHT IN MY paRKNEss? \ War IF
CO bead
MY LIFE IS A DAY-TO-DAY, HOUR-BY-HOUR
ae Be bn
STRUGGLE TO KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER? |
DETTE [ee
WHAT IF I'M NOT POWERFUL, AN INFLUENTIAL
EXECUTIVE OR PROMINENT POLITICIAN? 4 WHAT
=a

=——- =

15

POSSIBLE LIGHT CAN I PERSONALLY SHINE ON
be

ANYTHING? \ Wao HASN'T THOUGHT LIKE THAT?
ga aE

I THINK MAYBE THE LIGHT JESUS WANTS

EIT:
YOU AND ME TO SHINE IS WHATEVER IT £5
a = be
THAT BURNS BRIGHTLY INSIDE OF US. I
ee
THINK IT MEANS THAT SOMEWHERE INSIDE
eid rE,

EACH ONE OF US IS A PLACE OF BRIGHT
ne =
LIGHT, A PLACE OF DEEP CARING AND PAS~
ara

ston, ano STRONG LOVE AND COURAGE ~
eee

BECAUSE GOD PUT IT THERE.
es eee er

EAcH oF US, I BELIEVE, HAS LIGHT TO
‘nec oes,
suine. \ SomeTzMEs THAT’S HARD TO BE-

LIEVE. } WHEN JESUS LOOKED AT THAT MOTLEY
em ees

BAND OF FISHERMEN AND TAX COLLECTORS AND
re | =

HOMEMAKERS - MARY MAGDALENE, MarTHA,
Er, = (ts

Lael

PETER, ANDREW - AND SAID, you ARE THE

LIGHT OF THE worto, "\I'" CONVINCED THEY “Them did f

TOO HAD TROUBLE BELIEVING I | BuT_THEY feet hhex
ene al bad

Gal b af casual

Light 4 wored ,
DOUBTS AND Vv
[$ AND OBVIQUS WEAKNESSES AND THEIR fg. Co yy

FAILURES AND INFIDELITIES AND BETRAYALS
— Pern ad =n

WERE SOMEHOW e\n SPITE _OF THEIR SELF
=i in

16

- THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND THE WORLD
2 oe” Sd

HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE.
ath a
WE ARE NOT ALL POWERFUL EXECUTIVES
P| Pe]
OR INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS OR BRELLIANT
THINKERS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
mot [ee
LIGHT z5,\ sur I BELIEVE YOU HAVE IT
Se fa eee
BECAUSE GoD Gave rt TO you. \ Its
WHATEVER BURNS BRIGHTLY IN YOUR SOULy JIT
MAY BE YOUR CONSCIENCE AT THE WAY THINGS
cutee aie

ARE DONE AT work; your DISCOMFORT WITH
bn]

THE WAY SOMEONE IS BEING TREATED; \vour

CONCERN FOR SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY;

OR IT MAY BE YOUR GIFT WHICH YOU HAVE
re] Senet

BEEN HIDING - YOUR POETRY, MUSIC, ART;

= Ll —m

(og) rr MAY BE YOUR LOVE FOR CHILDREN,

GRANDCHILDREN, [wzeces/nepnews,| ALL THE
eee ep eee

CHILDREN; or FOR YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER;

OR FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR WHO NEEDS YOU; OR
oe) serrate Ce] ‘

FoR Gop I BELIEVE IT IS A MATTER OF
Tad ‘ee SEEN

UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR YOU AND ME TO KNOW

17

WHAT OUR LIGHT IS AND TO LET IT SHINE -
eT be

SO THAT OTHERS MAY SEE GOD.
SOMEONE WHO DID THAT FOR A LOT OF

(Anas . [eee
US WAS A WOMAN WHO JUST DIED ~ ON EASTER
baal ree

. T HER. \

SUNDAY IN FACT \ ter TELL YOU ABOU

HER HUSBAND IS A FRIEND OF MINE, A

ee =e
MINISTER OF A PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ONE
Po

oF Corcaco's NortTH SHORE suures. \ Ir

WAS A SECOND MARRIAGE FOR BOTH OF THEM.
Ps. |

THEY JOINED THEIR FAMILIES AND TOGETHER

H2 pay gi hence,
PRESIDED OVER A HOUSEFUL OF six CHIL-

oo imal. .
DREN, [ Her NAME WAS JAN | sue WAS

xen
BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL, FULL OF INCREDIBLE
eee pad a

ENERGY, A SUPERB MUSICIAN, A SUCCESSFUL

composer,\ a PASSIONATE LOVER OF LIFE. ~ @4adAMr -
Se al _

SHE HAD AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS, placed ppouel

I GLE C
Lou GEHRIG'S DISEASE. | WE ALL KNEW. ABOUT ee
[eee — —

HER. \ We FHOUGHT ABOUT HER AND PRAYED

FOR HER AND EVERY NOW AND THEN CALLED
—ao Ee ce

HER HUSBAND TO ENCOURAGE rey. | 8 y Wu tnd
nnn a

JAN’S DISEASE HAD PRETTY THOROUGHLY
a

18

IMMOBILIZED HER. \ SHE HAD MOVEMENT ONLY
ey ===

IN HER LEFT FOREARM AND FINGERS AND SOME
Cad

tome, Drsey Clerin tr tums

HEAD movemenr. \ ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE Wisi, an
VISITED HER NOT LONG BEFORE SHE DIED.
Lead ————
PHYLLIS WAS WORRIED THAT THE VISIT MIGHT
eee

cece
BE DIFFICULT AND CONVERSATION UNCOMFORT-

[oe =
ABLE FOR JAN. | SHE TOLD ME SHE HARDLY
eee =e Daal

GOT A WORD IN. £E JAN COMMUNICATED BY WAY
beamed Ce

OF A LAPTOP COMPUTER, WITH THE FINGERS
onc

OF HER LEFT HAND DOING THE TALKING, \aND

THE WORDS WERE POPPING UP ON THE SCREEN
PHYLLIS SAID.
SHE WAS WRITING A BOOK ABOUT HER
Ls |

EXPERIENCE. \ Sue STARTED EACH DAY BY
reer eet

ASKING GOD WHAT HER ASSIGNMENT WOULD BE

eee
FOR THAT DAY. ~ AND THEN SHE WROTE,
eS eee
PHYLLIS MUSTERED HER COURAGE AND

|
asken, (“What WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN'T

MOVE YOUR ezucens?" \ Ano JAN TOLD HER

ABOUT A COMPUTER ACTIVATED BY EYE MOVE~

19

wn

Udy

1
c

us G Nurs

a

MENT THAT SHE PLANS TO USE TO CONTINUE
Pie am

HER WRITING.

So I THINK ABOUT HER WHENEVER I
=e

READ ABOUT JESUS TELLING HIS FRIENDS
aa SS ee

THAT THEY ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND

I THO8@MNT ABOUT WHAT A_SORRY THING IT IS
P=, enna .

TO BE HEALTHY AND WHOLE AND FULL OF LOVE

AND POTENTIAL PASSION, FULL OF_STRENGTH
AND UNTRIED COURAGE - AND ACTUALLY, TO BE

WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE A LIGHT
es es a Sy
TO SHINE, OR TO BE TOO AFRAID TO LET IT
4 — = eee
SHINE.| AND I T ABOUT THE CHURCH -
THEO=CTTUR@T™=29TEN, AND ALL THE POWER AND
fee SD

LOVE AND PASSION WHICH WORE GATHERS

—_— a “%
y ® reg, AND I THOORRT ABOUT THE MIRACLES

WHICH WOULD START HAPPENING IF JESUS
==

SOMEHOW WALKED IN R@@® AND LOOKED ALL OF
aa ST ee

US IN THE EYE AND SAID, |"YOU ARE THE
SLs ele ==

LIGHT OF THE WORLD, LET YOUR LIGHT
—=p

SHINE.”
=-_

20

0 Yur

AnD I Teewe@eT MAYBE EACH OF US
Ems)

OUGHT TO GO THROUGH THE REST OF THIS DAY , a. \enrk,
AT LEAST, ‘SINGING. ~

"THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, \

I'M GONNA LET IT SHINE...”

AMEN.
a

21