I Can[t]

As we find ourselves entering again into that month of love, we must look, despite what is happening around us, to what this love really means.

During this month of love, I am reminded of John 3:16-17; 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)

In my calling I get to love on and minister to a wide spectrum of people. From those who are transitioning to those who are 100% well. What amazes me the most is that when having discussion with the terminally ill, the transitioning and the ones who are just tired, most of them have given up. When asked why or if they could do something or speak about something, their response is “I Can’t.” When we drill down to what the issue is, we find that they either don’t understand what is being asked or they don’t want to do or respond to what is being asked. “I can’t” works well when we feel that we are not really being seen, heard or taken care of.

Can you imagine what life would be like if Christ, when it was time for him to be crucified for something that he did not do, said I can’t do this. They will never love you Father (God) with their entire being. They will never love their neighbor as they love themselves. There is no repentance or forgiveness in them. How is your showing them love by sending me to die for them going to make any difference to them?

A friend of once told me, that his father would not let them use the word can’t. He said that they had to find a way. What it boiled down to is: You cannot quit before you even get started. You are not allowed to destroy before you have had an opportunity to build.

Because of his father and because of times such as these, I hear the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church of Philippi. Philippians 4:13; I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

With all that is happening in the world, our country, our state, our city/town, and even our own home, we must not quit on sharing the Love and Peace of God with one another and with those whom God has sent in our pathway. It is our responsibility to share our story of the test that God helped us to pass; about the mess that God brought us through. We knew that we could not have done it on our own, but with Christ we made it.

One of my terminally ill members reminded me that yesterday is done. I can either wallow in sorrow over the things that almost took me down or I can praise God today because it did not take me down. We are not strong enough to do anything, but with God’s help we can and will accomplish everything.

Rev. Dr. Christopher L. Thompson is pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Okatie, SC