There’s a small group of Parkview residents who are smokers. They respectively enjoy their habit in their own subcommunity on the outside fringes of the apartment campus, about ten feet from where I park my car.

So, I see them frequently; but I do not speak to them. Except for “Hello” or “good morning” there has been a silent, invisible wall between us.

Until a Sunday morning message, given at Resurrection Lutheran Church on August 24. It was based on the text from Luke 13 in which Jesus heals a woman stooped for 18 years. The pastor dramatically and effectively expounded the text (which can be seen at rlcpdx.net).

For weeks I had seen a terribly stooped woman among the smokers. I thought of her continually during the sermon, musing how badly she needed to hear it and see it. So, a few days later, when she was alone in the smokers’ corner, I approached and told her about the sermon. I gave her a note that I had written during the sermon about it; and I encouraged her to watch it on the livestream.

The next day she told me that my note to her had come at an exceptionally low moment in her life. And then she handed me a poem that she had written nine years ago. I share it with you now.

“Faith Versus Works or How Faith Works (So To Speak)

I don’t think it is just faith . . . . or just works.

It is more like working our faith

by waiting on the Lord

and listening hard, and long,

and quietly . . . .

finding that “closet,”

or a cabin or a car

sitting on top of a quiet hill

where you can get perspective . . . .

because He’s real!

So, here’s the deal:

He wants to talk to us . . . .

And have us listen!

Anything less, or different,

Is just “works.”

And works done why? . . . .

To impress some person

(Rather than the only one who truly matters?)

Or out of some sense of duty?

(Rather than love

and gratitude

For what He’s done for us???)

Out of habit?

Like a rabbit?

Out of routine?

Like a machine?

Bottom line,

The Spiritual equation

To be a “good Christian”

(per the word of our Lord

And Brother James)

Seems to be:

Faith plus the (right) works–

Specifically and generally–

Equals

One very happy

GOD

Our Father, Savior, and Redeemer.

Amen.

Kathleen Tucker April 29, 2016