I’m
watching a Sci-Fi movie about aliens and a young boy has brought the alien to
the cemetery where his father was buried. His dad was a soldier killed in war.
The boy crying begs the alien to bring his dad back to life. But the alien
responds that he cannot do that and the boy sobs: “It’s not fair.”
This
morning, I invited the children in church to come up to the altar to share a
story. First, I asked them to line up according to height. With the help of
their Sunday school teacher, they lined up tallest to the shortest.
Once,
Jesus taught that there were workers in a field and some worked from the
beginning of the day and some didn't work until the end of the day but they all
got paid the same. Do you know what the workers who got their first said? Yep,
they said, 'That's not fair!' we worked longer and harder and we should get
more. But they were given what they were promised; it was just the same as what
the workers who came later were promised.
Have
you ever had something be not fair? Grownups are all too familiar with
situations when we say: “That’s not fair.” So we know what it feels like when
we think that we didn't get treated the same. But Jesus tells this story to
teach us about “grace.” See the workers who were hired later still had families
to bring home food to and the landowner did not want anyone to go hungry so
they were all paid the same. Jesus says that God is like this. God gives us
what we need and loves us all so much that we don't get what we deserve, we get
“grace” better known as “unconditional love.” Jesus said the last will be first
and the first last! This might sound unfair to let the last go first but with
God we are all included and we are all a part of God's “grace” and we are all
God's children.
Sure,
enough, I dug into my Pumpkin bag and pulled out some “Kit Kats” to give to the
kids. However, like the story, I started with the shortest. But you know what
happened next? In the pews were two little ones Chloe and Clifford who were
smaller than all the other kids and when they saw the candy they came running
out of their pews to get some candy too.
God prays for us as we reflect: ”A good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure
you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38)
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who struggle in
the journey of life with too many “it’s not fair.” May the spirit give you
courage and wisdom and make your faith strong.
