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"It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and thread-bare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, 'God bless you.'"
1 Cor 4: selected verses (The Message, by Eugene H Peterson)
"A couple of ugly green shirts"
And I mean, UGLY... I recently attended the annual School of Ministry in Bismarck, ND. Some 84 UM Pastors from North and South Dakota gathered there. Dr. Doug Adams was our guest speaker. His topic was Biblical humor. Doug shared many insights concerning Jesus and Paul's use of humor, sarcasm, and open-ended stories in their teaching. Doug used a lot of interactive activities with the participants. Some of us became "judges" who scored the 9 "lepers" on how good their excuses were for not returning to thank Jesus after they were healed. Others became "Pharisees" or "Herodians" as we reflected on Jesus' parables. We were instructed to respond with cheers, applause, hisses, "boo!" and "huh?" to the reading of Jesus' ancestry.
The teaching was very interactive, fun, and insightful. During our "afternoon off".... a group of us pastors went to the mall to wander around. My friend, Kip, and I were in Dayton's when our eyes caught a glimpse of the ugliest green shirts in the world hanging on the sales rack marked 75% off. They were long-sleeved with a strange paisley-like pattern. Naturally, we took a closer look. The Polo Shirts originally cost $45 each but were reduced to $2.67 a piece. "What a bargain!" we said to each other. And to think there would be a couple of them left... and in our size?!?! Talk about a stroke of luck!
We looked at each other like a couple of adolescents about to pull a prank on their teacher. We had a plan. We would buy these ugly matching shirts and wear them to the evening class session. We would bring our own zany humor to the class on 'Biblical Humor" .... plus a surprise. Read on.
That evening we headed toward the classroom wearing a matched set of the ugliest green shirts in the world. It was fun to watch peoples' reactions. We were met in the hallways with strange, startled stares that turned into smiles. Pointing, nudges, and laughs. Our friends shook their heads in double takes of disbelief. "Did you guys go shopping?" "Yes we did, and can you believe there were two of these left?" "What, you think they're ugly?!?" "What's that you say?!?! 'only an idiot or a goof-ball would wear a shirt like this?' We milked it for all it was worth. Finally, people turned back to their individual chit chat... and the instructor walked in unnoticed.
The class session commenced. Kip and I sat down side-by-side at the front of the room. The group was called to order and Dr. Adams was introduced once again. From behind the podium, he stood to speak. The room went deafly silent for a moment; then broke into laughter. You see, Dr. Adams was wearing the exact same ugly green shirt! A gift from Ick and Ike! ;?)
Paul said, "We are fools for the sake of Christ..."
May it always be so! Clowning around with the likes of you,
Rick (and Kip) a.k.a. Ick and Ike
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