cktimes.ca Archives for The Pastoral Lens
The Pastoral Lens
Love Is a Many-Lended Thing
Tuesday, October 8, 2002
Back in early September my family and I came back form an enjoyable movie night at our church. Everyone was in a good mood, having spent only time, not money, for a quality evening out. We had a good night's rest before the wheels came off the bus the next morning. You see, I headed out to the shed in my back yard to get my mountain bike and found that it was stolen during the night. To complicate matters, the thief left another bike (also stolen) in its place in order to "trade up" for my 4-month-old beauty.I phoned the police and gave the obligatory report and also turned the other bike in. The kind officer was not too optimistic that I would be able to retrieve my bike. I certainly understood, but my bike is a mainstay in my transportation diet. Presently, we have one car in our household, so my wife gets first dibbs on it. She needs it with the kids, and I prefer the bike, anyway. I decided I would resort to my "winter bike" (ie. walking) for getting to the office the next morning.
I attended a youth volleyball function that same night where word of my misfortune reached the ears of those attending. Immediately, one young man offered to lend me a bike that he had at home. A few minutes later, another young man offered to lend me his expensive bike indefinitely until I should get another one for myself. I was overwhelmed with such kindness! Before the night was through, yet another person, a young lady, offered me her mom's bike which was no longer being used.
I had a nice spring in my step as I walked to work the next morning. I was greeted by our friendly secretary who was speaking with a man from our church in the hallway outside her office. I was barely in the door when he told me to get into his car with him to go over to his house. He was lending me his nice 15-speed mountain bike indefinitely until I replaced the one that was stolen. As of this writing, I am still using his bike. He has assured me that there is no hurry to get it back to him.
This outpouring of love in my direction reminds me of the teaching of Jesus Christ found in Luke 6:35 commanding us to "lend, expecting nothing in return". This kind of love is unselfish and unconditional. It's the God-kind of love. Our world needs this kind of love. The misfortune of my stolen bike has given way to a flow of God's love toward me. That sure motivates me to go and do the same. How about you?
