By David H. Morgan

From talk given at Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church

In following up with the theme of today’s message, several core themes emanate that should trigger inner self-reflection and musing at this time in our lives.

1. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” What are all of us here doing to feed our sheep? Our flock includes not just the spiritual nourishment garnered here at OBPC every Sunday morning, but also others in our community, nation and world;
2. “…when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you….” The intergenerational theme is manifest here, we all need to remember that we are all, ultimately, inter-connected. What we were taught as infants and as children we then teach and pass on to our children, relatives, and friends, knowing that we will, most likely, need that outreached hand to assist us in our sunset years. To think of what would happen to us if we did NOT have this gift of leading and mentoring to others???
3. “…and lead you where you do not want to go.” This is an important theme here: we, as Christians, are sometimes called to “carry the torch,” to be courageous, to, as Dr. Foley admonishes, “step out of the boat” even when the winds and seas may be turbulent, when the prevailing opinion might not be in our favor. I submit to you that embracing courage and then acting upon that belief will allow us to model what Christ would have modeled;
4. “Then he said to him, “Follow me.” Again, this is where the legacy journey begins to play itself out again. We are admonished to be pioneers of the faith, to be leaders of our Christian beliefs in all walks of life. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once famously penned:

“Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.”

So, just what are the benefits of giving, of charity, of trying to leave a legacy? There are innumerable benefits, to name but a few:

1. Mental: Numerous scientific studies have empirically documented the multiple benefits to our mind, our brains, when we give;
2. Physical: Many of those same studies support the many health benefits to our physical condition when we are generous;
3. Financial: There are a host of advantages in the Internal Revenue Code alone that emanate when we give to others. These are too numerous and complex to expound upon here, but they merit your exploring at some point in time;
4. Spiritual: Proverbs 16:9 says: “In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his step.” Knowing that we are in union with God in fusing our intent with His direction is a potent and stalwart partnership for any one of us to live our lives…..

How do we instigate this?

I am sure that all of you here today have at one time or another in our lives encountered a severe loss, be it from job issues, family discord, even death of a loved one. I was thinking that this can create a vacuum, a chasm, a void. I believe that once we begin to more fully embrace a life of giving, we then commence to “FILL THE VOID.” Think of it, we all have them. Have you not at one time or another experienced a terrific sense of loss, that searing sense that your heart has been torn out of you? I think we all have had this, and sometime, we continue to carry those earlier burdens in life. So, doesn’t it feel wonderful once that heavy backpack of rocks is lifted from us? Does not the sense of a lighter load only want us to rejoice in that terrific sense of release and relief?

As I close this morning,I am imploring all of us, in the spirit of one church, one body of Christ, as one community to live as Ephesians 4:1—3 calls us: “…walk in a manner worthy…..

After all, would this not be a wonderful model for others to so live their lives, too???

Thank you,

David H. Morgan

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