My friend Lance used to have a crush on Mary Tyler Moore. Just mention her
name and his face would light up with that Lance smile and go “ahhh...Mary,” and
then we had to withstand all the praise and accolades he had for her. But it
wasn’t MTM that he worshipped, it was her character, Mary Richards on her show,
the associate producer who coddled Ted Baxter and Lou Grant with a sensitivity
and grace far beyond our understanding. It was that Mary, the one who washed
her own 1970 Mustang, who was Rhoda’s best friend, who dated but never married
that he adored. In a world and at a time when sexual themes were changing, Mary
had a virgin like quality to her, morals we would call them, and respected
herself, as others did her. But she was also real, as laughing at Chuckles the
Clown’s funeral, and somehow always being the bridesmaid, but never the bride.
It was these real life qualities we all could relate to that made him and us
love her, and we weren’t sure if there was no man deserving of her, or she was
deserving of no man.
Pastor Jon Corson tells of his daughter Jesse who hadn’t who hadn’t decided
on a date for her prom. A God fearing and wonderful Christian girl, she loved
Jesus, ministered to many in love, and at age 16 already had a legacy much like
Mary Richards. One night before the prom asking period, one of her brothers
told her that no man was good enough for her because she was too good, had too
high standards, Godly standards. No one would ever reach her standards for
good. Where was she ever going to find the man deserving of her? The next day
as was her habit, she took communion before school, and on the way to school was
in a single car accident, her VW slipping on ice and she was killed. Similar to
how Jon had lost his first wife and in the same area. While overcome with
emotions, his daughter taken but in heaven, it was his son who running home when
he heard the news announced, “Jesse has finally found the man worthy of her.”
Jesus Christ. How many of us would or could rejoice in the midst of such a
situation? How many of us ever feel not worthy of Jesus? Yet his love for us
is not based on what we do, but who he is, and not who we are, but what he did.
When we put him first, and use him as the highest standard, he honors us, and we
see him clearly for who he is. A witness to others of him and his love, and
truly her brother saw the truth. A time to see a side of Jesus and his love we
might have otherwise missed. But still the pain of losing a loved one
remains.
Years ago when a girl I was ministering to died, I talked with her grief
stricken father at the service. He loved and missed his daughter, when leaving
I told him, “please pray for my sons, you can sleep in peace tonight knowing
where your daughter is, I cannot because I don’t know where they are.” Last
week another friend confided in me how his son just died unexpectedly, and
poured out his heart to me. I was taken aback at his trust in me, and the
words God gave me were what he needed to hear. “When Absalom died, David was
grief stricken, but remembered, I can go to him, he cannot come to me.” Tonight
those who have graduated to heaven are well, it is us who still suffer in this
world, and if not for Jesus Christ would be perishing. Grief like love is a
private relationship with God, and without his spirit guiding us we too will be
overwhelmed, when we can be overwhelmed by his love. A choice we make, and a
tough course to follow, but we too will pass, and how will we be remembered?
Like Lance and his adoration of the character Mary, will it be our character, or
a character the world sees us as? Just when all seems lost, along comes Mary,
or someone like her to comfort us, to remind us all is not as bad as it seems.
That there is hope and it is found only in Jesus Christ. Why as Christians do
we relate more to Mary Richards than to Jesus? She is a sit com created by a
writer, Jesus is real, and revealed through Biblical writers. Who do you put
your trust in? “Ahhh Mary, or ahhh Jesus? Might just tell us more about our
true religion and relationship than we care to share.
Years ago I cleared my trophy case and wall of all the awards I had ever
won. There was a time they meant something to me, but over time they lost their
value. Are we in it to win it or win the trophy, the accolades? But I kept two
trophies my bikes won, for being Best European Bike at a Christian bike show.
All the Harley guys were out to win a trophy, I was out to ride. They were
competing, I really didn’t care, no trophy would make me love my rides any
better. But in the face of all the mocking of what I rode, I won the prize. I
dared to be different and not ride what everyone else rode, and I choose to live
my life in Christ the same way. Keep your religion, I’ll keep my relationship.
I look forward to heaven, and seeing Jesus face to face, what has your religion
promised you? I worship the truth of Jesus Christ, not a watered down,
emaciated gospel. And I know that because of who Jesus is and what he did, I
don’t get what I deserve, but what he has promised. If your prayer time
reflects “ahh Mary,” it needs to be “ahh Jesus.” Religion will keep us down,
and then along comes Jesus. And that’s the way it is, and will always be. The
gospel, good news to those who are perishing. Jesse and all who know Jesus
personally have finally found the man worthy of them. Can you join me in an
AMEN!
Jesus, who can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem
worthwhile. Might just be a sitcom theme song there....
love with compassion,
Mike
mattehw25biker.blogspot.com