Words from Bede Circuit

Dear Friends

My Mam was a Local Preacher and I have recently acquired some of her resources; some of the stories she used as sermon illustrations or as part of all age worship. One of them is entitled “Love will find a way!”

A man had three sons and bequeathed his seventeen camels to them. His Last Will and Testament bore the words, “Love will find a way.” Inside, it read, “To my eldest son I leave one half of my possessions. To my second son I leave one third of my possessions. To my youngest son I leave one ninth of my possessions.”

The man died and his three sons set about working out their share. The first son said, “Dad left me one half. That means, I am to have 8 and a half camels! What use is that?” The second son said, “I am to have one third of his camels. How do I start measuring? One third equals 5 and two thirds!” (Or 5.6667!) The third son said, “I am to take one ninth of the camels, I cannot even do the maths!” But he worked out one ninth of 17 was 1 and 8/9 or 1.8889! The brothers were utterly confused as to how each of them was to have his share and it never occurred to them to share the “fractions” of camels with each other. Eventually, they went to see a mutual friend and told him their problem. He smiled and said, “Was there anything on the outside of the will?” “Yes,” they replied. “Something about ‘Love will find a way’”. “Well, that’s the secret,” the friend replied. I have only one camel but I will give it to you.” Suddenly their problem was eased! 17 plus 1 made 18 camels. The first took his rightful half = 9. The second son took his third of 18 = 6. Finally, the youngest son’s one ninth of 18 = 2. However, 9+6+2 equals 17. They all had more camels and even had one camel left over! Love DID find a way!

I am not sure how that works but perhaps it is not HOW it works out but WHY it works out that matters. Three brothers intent on having their fair share were not prepared to compromise. A far wiser friend offered all he had to help and suddenly the “problem” was solved and, no doubt, he received his camel back again. The moral of the story is that “Love will find a way.” At the heart of our Christian faith is the truth that God gave His one Son for us. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” What a wonderful gift!

As I write this, I am preparing for annual General Church Meetings. Our rule book CPD tells us that we must have a conversation on the ministry and witness of the church; consider financial affairs, appoint church stewards and elect representatives to the Church Council. I wonder…

What part do you have to play within the life of the church?

What difference might you offering what you have, or can do, to the life of the church make to how it works? And how we all work? “Love will find a way!”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

With my love and prayers,

Rev Deborah Wainwright
On behalf of Bede Circuit ministry team

Zoom Prayer Meeting – Wednesdays, 10am

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