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People Either Love Him or Hate Him

PEOPLE EITHER LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM
Mike Cunningham
February 15, 2015

It seemed as though nothing had changed in all those years. It was the same in 1983 as it was a couple of thousand years ago. Regardless of where he went, this all loving compassionate man, soon found out that people either love him or hate him. For instance, in excerpts from the story of this wonderful man we read:

…Joshua liked Aaron. He was a naturally good man with noble ideals, even if they weren’t the same highly spiritual ideals that drove Joshua. These long weekend drives to the city and back had a big effect on Aaron’s life. He never looked upon Joshua as belonging to a particular religion. Joshua was too big for that. Aaron saw him as a giant of a man whose life transcended denomination or religious affiliation. He was just a healthy person who had a supremely well-balanced view of life and whose relationship with God was well integrated into the fabric of his personality. To Joshua, God was like the air he breathed. It was so much a part of him that he didn’t need to be aware of it. It was his carefree lightheartedness that had attracted Aaron to Joshua in the first place.

As he lay in bed that night Joshua’s thoughts drifted across the centuries to the synagogue in Nazareth that he knew and loved so well. The whole scene passed vividly before his mind: the attendant handing him the scroll, the dead silence of the audience, the nervous reading of the text, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to captives and sight to the blind; to set at liberty the oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompense.” It had been a hot, sultry morning, and the synagogue was packed. The air was tense. These were the people he had grown up with, and they were surprised at what they were witnessing. They weren’t ready for it, and they resented it. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Where did he get all this from?” After a few brief moments the young preacher was being dragged bodily from the building. Only because of the confusion was he able to slip away and escape.

Tears came to Joshua’s eyes as he lay there in the dark. “How different from the big-heartedness of the people at the synagogue this evening,” he thought. These people responded in a way that was new and different from all his past experiences. He went to sleep feeling good, and grateful to his Father.

By Saturday morning the figures were taking shape. The one for Father Darby was almost finished. The one for Reverend Rowland was not far behind. Joshua spent the better part of the morning working on that one. Both figures were almost five feet high and wide enough to include considerable detail. Joshua worked assiduously, bringing meaning and messages out of the lifeless wood that were bound to cause conflicting reactions in the viewers. But that was what he wanted to do. Works of art that merely evoke admiration rarely stimulate the mind and have little effect on behavior. His work was, therefore, strongly suggestive and no one walked away from his creations unmoved.

He worked late on Saturday and slept soundly that night. Early Sunday morning he walked down the back road to the Pentecostal church where Reverend Rowland preached. The building was a simple wooden frame structure. There weren’t many people in the congregation; there weren’t many black people in town. Some of their members came from a distance to attend services at this church, and they made great sacrifices to keep their community together.

When Joshua came walking up to the church Reverend Rowley welcomed him and introduced him to the handful of parishioners standing with him. The minister asked Joshua how the statue was coming along. Joshua said it was coming nicely and should be finished by Friday. If he came late Friday morning, it would be ready for him. The man was delighted and made no attempt to hide his pride at the thought of having a figure of the Apostle Peter in his church. Even though statue were frowned upon, the minister managed to convince his people that Peter was a symbol of the rock foundation of Christianity and would be a constant reminder of the fundamentals of their faith in Jesus. The group felt all authority rested in the Scriptures. The authority of religious leaders was merely human, and they were disinclined to place much authority in the Church. For them the Scriptures were the real touchstone of faith, not the church. While this approach has its pitfalls in the confusion it occasioned over meaning of important parts of Scripture, and the splinter groups it gave rise to, the people themselves were simple and well intentioned. Above all they took their faith seriously and were an inspiration to the rest of the community for the charity and honesty of their personal lives.

The service in the church was informal and joyful. The people sang and prayed aloud and gave touching testimonies to the wonders that took place in their lives when they gave themselves over to the Lord. Joshua was moved by the simple sincerity of the people. The minister welcomed the visitors and guests and singled out Joshua, the accomplished artist who was carving the figure of Peter the Apostle for their church. A lady prayed spontaneously for the Spirit to bless his hands, so he would put into the figure a message that would touch the hearts of everyone in the congregation. Everyone responded by proclaiming a loud “Amen.”

After the service the people filed into the little hall that served at different times as a classroom or a meeting room. The friendly smell of coffee and pastry floated around the room, putting everyone in a congenial mood. A group of men gathered around Joshua and asked him how he liked their service. He was honest and told them of the thoughts that had passed through his mind during the service.

The Reverend Rowland also came over and told Joshua how happy he was to have him meet his people and that he was welcome to their service at any time.

The social hour ended and the group broke up. It had been a long session, almost two and a half hours in all. As Joshua walked home a handful of people walked down the street with him, then separated as they reached a corner, each going his own way.

Joshua spent the afternoon relaxing in his backyard. Pat Zumbar and Herm Ainutti stopped over with a friend they wanted Joshua to meet. His name was Woozie. That was not his real name, but it is what he had been called since boyhood so he still used it. He was shaped like Pat and could double for him in other ways. Woozie was earthly and practical, and his goals in life were simple. He had a gruff exterior but underneath was a kind man who would do anything for a friend. Joshua grinned broadly as he was introduced to him, as if he already knew all about him.

When the trio went into the kitchen Woozie eyed everything in sight. “You can tell a woman never touched this place,” he commented. There was a coat of dust on practically everything, which was obvious to any visitor, though it was of little importance to Joshua.

“You really live alone?” Woozie asked, skeptical that a fellow as young and good-looking as Joshua really lived by himself.

“I’m never alone,” Joshua countered, “but I am very contented living by myself. Some people can’t live with themselves, and they find it impossible to imagine anyone else living by himself. When you are at peace you can enjoy the opportunity of living with your thoughts.”

Woozie was interested in Joshua. “How come you moved up here all by yourself? You have to get away from some-place?” he asked Joshua as soon as they were all seated. “I can’t understand why anyone would want to live in this godforsaken place,” he continued.

“Maybe because people are so nice and friendly,” Joshua shot back.

“That’ll shut you up,” Pat said to Woozie with a great belly laugh.

“You know, you’re getting to be quite a celebrity,” Herm continued. “I saw you on the television the other night. You should have been a politician, the way you handled the tricky questions. You looked right at home. Were you nervous?”

“Yes, a little. It was a new experience, but it gave me a good chance to say a few things I felt were important.”

“You did a good job, even though I hate to admit it,” Pat said.

“How come they put you on television?” Woozie asked. Pat was quick to respond. “Because he’s a good artist. He even carved a figure for a synagogue in the city. In fact, it’s the synagogue Silverman belongs to, the one who owns the television station. I here you’ve been going to the services every Friday night, Joshua.”

“The people have been very gracious in inviting me, and I enjoy being with them. They are God’s chosen people, you know.”

“They were, you mean,” Woozie interjected. “They had their chance when Christ came, and they blew it.”

“They didn’t all reject him,” Joshua answered. In fact a great many of those who rejected him perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who accepted Jesus took his advice and fled to the hills and were saved when the Roman armies came. The Jew’s of today are the descendants of Jews who lived throughout the Roman world. They never knew Jesus. Their descendants today are still God’s chosen people. God never takes back what he gives.”

The three men were surprised at Joshua’s understanding of history. Even a historian would have been shocked at what Joshua just said because it revealed knowledge of something historians would not have known.

Joshua took the men into the shop. It was cluttered with a variety of pieces in different stages. The two figures of Peter the Apostle stood out, and Woozie asked about them.

“They are both of Peter the Apostle,” Joshua said, “for two different churches.”

The men were impressed. Even Woozie, who prided himself on his ability as a craftsman, admired the perfect detail of Joshua’s work.

…. The week went by slowly. Joshua finished his work on the remaining figures and people came by to pick them up. These people loved Joshua. They had come to know him as a friend. They told him their problems. They shared with him the funny things that took place in their lives and they joked with him about events in town.

As people came and left over the next few days, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness for Joshua. He wasn’t the same happy person who had come to town just a short time before. Oh, he laughed and joked with them as usual, but there was a melancholy that seemed to hang over his cottage. The shop was no longer filled with figures.

On Wednesday, Lester Gold came to see Joshua. He was a good friend of Aaron Fahn, who had told Lester practically he had learned about Joshua. Lester did volunteer work with a group of blind people and wondered if Joshua would accompany him on a visit to their meeting. He had told the blind folks about Joshua and about the figure of Moses he had carved. He had even brought some of them to “see” the figure, allowing them to run their highly sensitive fingers across the features and hands. They couldn’t wait to meet Joshua. Would he come? That is, of course, if he wasn’t busy. Joshua grinned. He was glad to see Lester. Aaron had told a lot about him and his family. Lester was now in the state legislature and was rising rapidly in the Democratic Party. He had just given a passionate speech in the Senate against the death penalty. Joshua was pleased when he heard that. How far Jews have come from the days of old, when the law and the death penalty were so much a part of life. Without realizing it, through the centuries they have absorbed the real spirit of Jesus, while Christians were too often inclined to abandon that spirit and return to the rigid strictness of the old law. It was a strange paradox.

Joshua told Lester he would be glad to go with him. He wasn’t busy so it wasn’t an imposition. He just asked for a few minutes to wash up.

A short time later the two men drove to the city. When they arrived at the meeting hall Lester took Joshua to the president of the organization and introduced him. The president, Thelma Bradford, was a woman with great dignity and a ripe sense of humor. Lester told her all about Joshua and she knew, if she kept pestering Lester she would get to meet him someday.

After introducing Joshua to the rest of the officers, Thelma asked Joshua if he would talk to the group for a few minutes. They were dying to meet him and ask him questions. Joshua consented and was led to the head of the room. After a short introduction he rose to speak. There were about a hundred people in the audience, men, women, and even some children.

Joshua scanned the audience. They knew where he was without seeing him. The room fell silent.

“My dear friends,” he began, “and I call you that even though you have never met me, because I know you, and I know that you are special people. As Lester was driving me through the country on the way here, I looked across the fields and saw all the things you have longed for all your lives to see. I thought of all the things you do see, things which we who have sight will never see, and I realized the strange goodness of God. The vision of things that pass so quickly is indeed a fleeting vision and an illusion of real things. But the things that you see are the reality beneath the illusion. What you see is real. We are merely the appearances. And we are indeed to be pitied because so few of us ever find the reality beneath the lights and colors. Your vision pierces the surface and sees the substance of life, and you can much more easily see things the way God sees them. You have a role in life that is precious. You can share with others the visions of things you see, which others cannot.

“I realize the shock of not seeing is hard to accept, but if you can trust God, and know that he has a unique work for you to do for him, then you can understand the value of your role in life. You may be tempted to compete in areas where the sighted thrive, and that is your right, but there are unique contributions to humanity and to the understanding of life that only you can make because you have resources that others do not have. Listen to the voice of God, and do not be afraid. Let him take you by the hand and guide you. Let him be your staff, and the lamp at your feet. The world needs only what you can teach them. Find what that is for each of you, and you will find overwhelming contentment.”

Joshua went on talking about other things, but that was the main thrust of his message. It was well received, and the people felt they had known him all their lives, his warmth so touched their hearts, like a soothing balm that nursed many hurts and bruises they had carried with them for years.

During the time after the talk they asked him a barrage of questions, about where he lived, where he was born, about his parents, and about his work as an artist, and where he learned to carve. He answered them all simply, with the same answers he gave others, but they saw more to him than other people did and realized that, in spite of his simple ways, there was more to him than meets the eye, and he was a very different kind of person. They wished they could get to know him better.

Informal and more personal conversations followed, and Joshua became acquainted with many of the people. Sensing his compassion, they told him of many of their trials and tragedies. He listened and encouraged each one. As he and Lester were walking toward the door afterward, a young girl in her twenties was introduced to Joshua. He talked to her for a few moments. She told him of her elderly mother she was caring for, and how difficult the situation was becoming, and that she was worried about the future. Joshua listened and sensed the impossibility of the girl’s predicament. He talked to her briefly, and then reached out and laid his hand on the girl’s head as he said goodbye, and told her to trust in God’s goodness-he would not fail her.

“I do trust him,” she replied. “He is my only hope.”

When Lester and Joshua went out the door and were busy talking, they were unable to hear the commotion inside. The blind girl let out a scream that sent chills up and down everyone’s spine, causing many to panic. “I can see, I can see. I could never see in my life before, but now I can see,” she kept saying over and over. The crowd gathered around her and asked her what had happened. All she could say was, “I don’t know. I was talking to the artist, and when he was leaving, he touched me. He touched me and now I see.”

Everyone was happy for her, as if they had been blessed just as much as she. They had felt that way since Joshua had begun speaking to them, and when they went home that afternoon they felt as if something wonderful had touched each of their lives.

Outside, Joshua and Lester kept talking as they walked toward the car, unaware of what had just taken place inside. It was private for those who were there, and Joshua did not want it to go any further.

By the time Lester dropped Joshua off in Auburn and returned home, his phone had been ringing constantly and his wife had a pile of calls for him to return. As he called each one they told him what had happened. They were so grateful for Lester bringing his friend to them. They would never forget what had happened that day.

When Lester made his last call and hung up, he fell back in his green velvet armchair and cried out loud, “That fox, that consummate fox! He knew all along what was happening inside that hall and never let on. Wait until I see him on Friday night. I’ll give it to him good,” he said with a big laugh. But then his wife came in and sat down to talk to him. Several of the people had told her what had happened. She asked Lester what it all meant and what he thought of Joshua. They talked till well past midnight and couldn’t wait until Friday night to hear what Joshua would say to a congregation full of Jews and a host of visiting rabbis. They were proud that Joshua was their friend, but they were beginning to have second thoughts as to his real identity. He was not just a simple wood carver. There was much more to him than he let anyone know. They were just beginning to pierce the veil of mystery surrounding him. Pages 177-181

As I said in the beginning of this sermon, as far as Joshua is concerned, “people either love him or hate him.”

Lord willing, next week….

Joshua, © 1983, 1987 by Joseph F. Girzone, published by Touchstone, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of the Americas. First Touchstone edition 2003

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February 15, 2015 Posted by Categories: Uncategorized 1 comment

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