(This is an article I wrote a few years back that I don’t think I ever published anyplace – so here goes! – MEM)
Like many preachers, my office study is full of bookshelves and books. They are the tools of my trade – my companions in many ways. I remember as a youngster how one time I destroyed a book and was reprimanded for it by an adult who said the following: “Book are our friends!” I have adopted that saying and used it many times with my own children and others.
Some of my books are more valuable than others. Some are more “prestigious” than others. For instance, I have prominently displayed in my humble collection the 6-volume Anchor Bible Dictionary – probably the best current scholarly dictionary for Biblical studies. They are handsome volumes – maroon with gold-leaf lettering. They are also impressive because of their girth – each many hundreds of pages – thousands of pages in all.
As I look over at this set filled with erudite essays on such themes as “Eschatology,” “Egypt,” and “Ecclesiastes,” I notice a strange thing. Perched on top of these valuable volumes is a green turtle figurine, with a handkerchief mask, and a sword strapped to his back. It is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figurine – standing on top of my Anchor Bible Dictionary set!
Why? How…did…it…get…there? Oh yeah – I remember! Yesterday I had a little visitor to my office – a little buddy of mine. His name is Cameron. That is his real name – I am not changing it to protect the innocent. He is the guilty party – he put it there.
Cameron is a little boy that attends our congregation. I call him “the candy man” because he loves candy. (By the way, I think it is hilarious that his dad is a dentist! Cosmic justice!) Cameron is just one of those kiddos you fall in love with right away. He knows all about dinosaurs (and loves to play with the models in my office) – he always has a new joke for you (“What do you call a scared dinosaur?” “A Nervous Rex!”). We sit and talk about how school was – what they had for lunch – what he did at recess that day. Then he begins to suggest ways to remodel my office. I need to get my dinosaurs off the window ledge and place them around the office – sort of spread them out a little. And the flying dinosaurs, of course, I need to hang from the ceiling tiles with fishing line. Good ideas, I say.
Well, Cameron leaves soon. But he leaves that Ninja Turtle as a reminder of his visit. On top of my Bible dictionaries. You know what I have decided? I am going to leave it there. I like it there. It reminds me of a friend. The odd combination of those scholarly dictionaries and that youngster’s toy is a symbol to me – a reminder.
You see, I am a teacher and a preacher of God’s Word. That is work that takes great effort for me. I have to dig deep with good tools to prepare messages and lessons that will be true and will honor God. I love the process – I love the tools – I enjoy the work.
But that little green Ninja turtle toy reminds me that I have to bring the stuff from those books – and especially the stuff from God’s book – across a long bridge and a wide chasm of understanding to people like Cameron. Explain eschatology to a little boy? Oh yes! Over time, with patience.
My books are just a means to an end. The end is bringing people (including myself) to maturity in Christ. “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Paul in Colossians 1:28-29).
I think I am going to leave that strange turtle toy where it is – at least until Cameron has a better idea. And you know, I really, really love my job!
I remember this article! Don’t know if it was in the bulletin or somewhere else, but you definitely printed it somewhere. Not that that’s bad – it’s a great message – probably why I remember it after all these years!