EXCUSES

     Once upon a time, upon orders from my spouse, I sat silently among strangers at a social gathering while listening in on a conversation led by a gentleman getting on in the years. He was telling those around him that at twelve years of age he was too young. He continued the story along the same line: "at twenty, I felt too good; at thirty, too busy; at forty, too important; at sixty, too old."

     I wanted to know, too old for what, but kept politely silent.

    After a moment of staring into the distance with a smile of satisfaction spreading across a weathered face, he cut the suspense with, "Yes, too old to get involved in serving my Lord." At this moment there came a throat-clearing and an "excuse me" from a man standing at a before-now not-noticed podium.

     "Folks, I would like to make everyone aware - having just noticed myself - of the presence of Mr. Jack Murphy. I am sure most of those present know that only an hour or so ago he arrived at the airport from his nearly five years serving without fanfare and in almost total anonymity the needs of war-orphaned Afghan Children in the back-water areas frequented by the all-too-dangerous Taliban - serving in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Few people in their twenties could have endured the long hours Mr. Murphy was called on to work in order to meet the needs of those Muslim children in a country where children with parents have little chance, let alone orphaned children. Yet, at eighty-three, his example of selfless and courageous service for our beloved Savior gave courage to hundreds of children to accept Baptism from Brother Murphy."

     When our Father needs us, he never lets excuses stand in his path - so let's quit making them, let's roll up our sleeves, and let's be ever ready to serve.