Shade Tree Wisdom 2/8/11

After the momentous events of the hanging on the cross, the death, the burial and then the resurrection, two of the disciples were on their way home to Emmaus. On their way, they discussed the events that had just happened and Jesus joined them, asked what they were discussing, and then “opened to them the Scriptures.” Explaining it all.

They had just been married that summer, and this would be their first Christmas together. She wanted something special, so she went to the shop across the street from where he worked that handled such special items. She found just what she wanted but did not have the money to pay for it all. So she started to arrange for time payments.

But the owner of the shop told her, “You take it along. I know your husband, just pay when you have the money.”

So she thanked him and took it home and wrapped it. She was so happy about the gift that she gave it to her husband that night. “Merry Christmas”, she said, and kissed him. It was the end of September (We’ll come back to this).

In the poem Maud Muller, a judge and a country lass meet briefly, he to ask, she to offer, a drink of cold water on a hot summer day. Then each went their way, he to marry in society, she to marry a youth she grew up with. Each has moments of introspection in which they dream of what might have been. The poem concludes (you’ll recognize the lines)
Alas for maiden, alas for judge,
For rich repiner, for household drudge!
God pity the both, God pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
For all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these, ‘it might have been’..

But we tend to do that, look back, wonder. We are glad of the progress we’ve made, the goals we’ve reached, the friends we have, but there are always the regrets, “if only I did not. . .”, or “I wish I had. . .” or some such words, and it’s too late.

So it’s good to hear the rest. On October l of that year, officer Neil Schaefer, (he’s the husband), was on routine patrol in Elyria Ohio. He got a call a bank rubbery was in progress, and he reached the bank just as the robber fled in a blue car. The officer called for backup, and gave chase. A mile down the road the robber missed a curve and hit a tree. Backup had arrived, so the Officer did what the manual teaches, he barked “Hands where I can see them”, and reached to open the door. The robber had a cocked revolver on his lap, and shot officer Schaeffer in the stomach from 3 feet away. The robber was apprehended, an ambulance rushed the officer to the hospital.

The Watch Commander himself went to the door and when she opened it, he said, “Sue, Neil’s been shot and is in the hospital. But I have good news. The new bullet proof vest he was wearing saved his life. All he’s got is a deep bruise. But they want to keep him overnight for observation. I want to take you to him”. That was the early Christmas gift, so lovingly selected, and worn for the first time that night.

And that is what Jesus explained when He opened to them the Scriptures. Hebrews says, “Christ offered Himself unblemished to cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to death”,9,13.

So for us, Baptized believers and children of God, there is no need to wish “if only”, for us the vest is already in place. Paul calls it “The breastplate of righteousness”, the garment Jesus won for us when He died For Us.

GPD 2/8/11