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Out To Pastor
I have been accused of many things throughout my life, but never having a great memory.
When I was young, one of my favorite authors was James Thurber, who wrote the short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” which later became a movie.
When Thurber was young, he and his brother played a game called “William Tell,” which I had never heard of before but somehow involved bows and arrows. In the middle of that game, his brother, by mistake, shot an arrow hitting Thurber in the left eye, causing him to lose that eye. Later, his other eye suffered, and he was almost completely blind.
Thurber was a writer, and most of his writing was done in his head. Then, the next morning, he would sit down with his secretary, and she would write out the story as Thurber would dictate it to her.
Often, when Thurber and his wife were having dinner with some friends, his wife would say, “Jim, will you stop writing and listen to what we’re saying?” Of course, he was always working on some short story wherever he was.
Although I am not blind, I often do the same thing. I am always working on a sermon, a newspaper column, or an article in my head even when I am with others. I might be watching TV, visiting friends at some restaurant or just sitting at home with my wife.
Even though I can remember what I was working on in my head at the time, I cannot remember the conversation with people around me. I can never figure that out.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage often says, “Do you remember what I told you yesterday?”
That is a question to ponder. Whether I say yes or no, I am still in some trouble.
Now, if she said something like, “Do you remember what you were thinking last week when we were at dinner with some of our friends?”
While watching TV together, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage sometimes laughs and says, “Did you hear that? Wasn’t that funny?”
I will look at her, laugh and say, “That was hilarious.”
Once, she looked over at me and said, “Did you really hear that joke?”
She knew I did not hear that joke. Now, if she would say, “What were you thinking about when they told that joke?” I would immediately begin to respond and tell her what I was thinking.
On occasion, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and I are on a trip across town.
While driving the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will look over at me and say, “Ok, what are you thinking?”
Because I am thinking I do not hear her at first. Finally, she gets my attention and I once replied, “Oh, I was just thinking of what a wonderful, lovely, gracious wife I have. I am so fortunate.”
She has a hard time responding to that. Great thought.
A verse of scripture came to mind. Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
God knows what I am thinking all the time. I want to discipline myself to have thoughts that honor and please God. To think about God is the great pleasure of being a Christian.
Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352216-3025, e-mail [email protected], website www.jamessnyderministries. com.
