"Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future"

Time, Talent and Treasure... it is what we do  

Have you heard the story of The Other Wes Moore? It is a happy and tragic story of two boys both named Wes Moore raised a few blocks from each other in a tough Baltimore neighborhood. Both boys were fatherless, had their own gangs in the city and had their run-ins with the police. However one became a Rhode Scholar, decorated veteran, a White House Fellow and a successful businessman. The other Wes was convicted to life in prison.

The difference I believe was stewardship, specifically time. Several people gave their time to a young man they believed had the potential to not only survive the mean streets, but find a way out and excel. A few well timed positive comments here and there sprinkled with a few moments of interest in Wes's life saved him from the fate of the second Wes. Some wise old soul captured his imagination with a simple question: "What do you think you can become if you really dreamed big?" I believe that answer sparked a thought and that thought changed his life. Tyron Edwards, theologian, sums it up this way: "Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character, and character fixes our destiny."   Some gave Wes their time and changed his destiny.  

In the Afterword of the book there is a personal response to the story by Tavis Smiley. He maintains that some folks would say Wes found favor with God. He characterizes it differently,Wes was truly blessed. Tavis goes on to say he believes his personal blessings are unmerited; he received both grace and mercy. And because of those bountiful blessings he tries every day to do something in some way to help better the life of some individual so that when he lies down to sleep he will not be ashamed. "So that every one of us shall give account of himself to God" Romans 14:12  

A couple of weeks ago we had to endure our Pastor brag about his alma mater, but this time it was worth it because the entire congregation had equal time. The young people of Saint Paul's experienced a very real display of the impressive colleges represented in our family. While the visuals were impressive the dialogue between the young people and the older graduates was the real jewel. If we take advantage of that day, we can use it as a springboard to develop real meaningful relationships or even more, mentorships.   We can share the prodigious talents to help make sure we are responsible and accountable to participate in lives of our youth to achieve like the first Wes Moore. Talent is a similar to a smile. We can share it with other folks over and over again, they gain and you lose nothing. In fact you get the satisfaction of and reward of giving. "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God." 2 Corinthians 9:12

I read a sermon from a preacher who compared a "tip" to a" tithe". At first blush it may seem a little offensive.   Play along for a minute. The question it raises is interesting, "Is God less important than a waiter?" We have no problem paying one and half tithes or even 2, especially on our expense accounts, but often struggle when it comes to church. We all recognize there are real significant and theological differences between a tip and tithe. The point is we can be generous on what we perceive as small things and struggle with what we may perceive as large, maybe because we forget the first principle of wealth. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:8. Everything we have, skills, talents, physical prowess, intelligence are all gifts from God. We are simply returning thanks.

As a young catholic we prayed the rosary every night. Often we prayed for people I never met, most I never would. My mother taught us to pray for people who possessed a great deal more material wealth than we did. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12. She constantly reminded us of how blessed we were and our responsibility to help those less fortunate than us. I will admit it was confusing at first. However I would sum up those prayers this way. We prayed that the children of God, the fortunate, would treat the children of the God, the less fortunate, like children of God. So the spare treasures we enjoyed were always available to someone else.  

Saint Paul's we know how to do stewardship. ..God loves a cheerful giver

Brian Boutte