Mark Sorensen There’s a 19th Century folktale about a young man who went around the small village he lived in and loved to spread rumor and gossip about anyone and everyone he could think of. Seeing the harm he was bringing on the small community, the wise sage of the village called the man into his little hut and asked him for a favor. “Would you help an old man out,” the sage asked, “and take this bag of feathers and place them all throughout the village today? And then, at first light tomorrow morning, come back and see me.” Uncertain as to why this was necessary, but also respecting the wisdom in the village elder, the man graciously accepted the task and went about spreading the feathers all over the town. The next morning, bright and early, the young man showed back up at the home of the village elder.
“I have done everything you asked,” replied the young man, “and every feather was placed all around the village.” “Wonderful,” exclaimed the elder. “Now, I have one last thing for you to do. Go back out and pick up every feather you placed around the village.” “What? That’s impossible! There’s no way I can retrieve all of those feathers! The wind has already scattered them.” “Precisely my point,” the village elder replied.
“That is how it is with rumors and gossip. Once it leaves your mouth, you do not know where it ends up. It flies on the wings of the wind and, oftentimes, you can never get it back.”
I love the wisdom in that little story.
Last week, we looked at Matthew 18:15-20, and how Jesus says we are to respond if we see sin in the life of another believer. It’s easy to run away from conflict. It’s even easier to just talk about someone else’s mistakes to someone else. Yet, Jesus says, we’re to go to that person. We are to approach them individually, one on one (Matt. 18:15). If that doesn’t work, we bring a few friends along to let them know that they don’t have to struggle on their own (Matt. 18:16). And even if that doesn’t work, we encourage them to meet with the leadership at the church (Matt. 18:17).
Matthew 18 is so full of wisdom and love. What starts with humility and looking inward (Matthew 18:1-14), quickly turns to looking outward and loving those who may have strayed and walked away from the goodness of God (Matthew 18:15-20). So how does this chapter end? With forgiveness. This Sunday, let’s finish out the TKO series with a message on forgiveness – why it’s necessary and how we’re called to forgive even when it may seem impossible.
Can’t wait to “see” you online, friends.
