Foundational Thinking

Our son Isaac has Down syndrome and our farm belongs to him as much as it belongs to anyone in our family.  All the chores, the sores, and rewards are just as much his to share and take pride in as it is any of ours.

As Special Needs parents, one of the things we try to do is spread awareness and be an advocate for our son.  Part of that means, we give a great deal of attention to equipping him with every advantage and resource he needs to overcome the unique challenges he faces.  But, truly, it is more than that.

What we’re also spreading awareness of, and trying to advocate for, is not just our son’s special needs, but just as importantly his special gifting.  In other words, our attention as Special Needs Parents isn’t just on our sons’ disability as much as it’s on his abilities.

Our son’s identity as a person consists of a lot more than his Down syndrome.  Yes, his Down syndrome is part of it.  But, I can tell you, he’s definitely his own character, and has his own personality, and his own interests, and is discovering his own niche in the world.

That’s what we want to see.  Whether it’s at church, school, outside activities, or, Lord willing, one day in some kind of work context, we want Isaac to enjoy the same experiences and to have some of the same opportunities as his siblings will get to have.

But before we expect to see that level of inclusion for him outside the home, we want to see it happening in and around the home first.  Before any child can become a valued and contributing member of society, guess what, they’ve got to first learn to become a valued and contributing member of the family.

In my opinion, the home is the training ground, designed by God, to lay the foundations of character and general life skills that are needed to prepare one for the real world.  The foundation of a child’s education isn’t reading, writing, and arithmetic, as important as those things are.  The foundation of a child’s education is the formation of good habits and a strong character that prepares them for those other subjects of learning.

I appreciate the following quotes by Charlotte Mason who was a respected educator in the 1800’s who had a lot to say on this subject:

“The formation of habits is education, and education is the formation of habits.”

Charlotte Mason, "Home Education"

“The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children.”

Charlotte Mason, "The Original Home School Series"

In other words, a really good solution to avoid having to handhold and spoon-feed your kids as they grow into adulthood is to teach them to be independent and self-managing in their own established routines.

We’ve found as a family that one of the best places  to teach our kids (including Isaac) the kind of daily habits and routines that foster independence is on a farm.  If you think about it, what better environment is there to establish routines than on a farm, with all its chores, and planting schedules, and milking times, and putting up the animals before nightfall, and all the rest.  Farm-life is a great catalyst for teaching daily responsibility.

I once heard Bob Doman, the Director of the National Association of Childhood Development (NACD), an organization that helps out a lot of Special Needs families, say:

“In general…the more [chores a child has] the better.  If I had my druthers I’d try to raise every child on a farm or a ranch where there are lots and lots of chores to be done…The job we have as parents is to raise our children so they are happy, successful adults…When you give your child chores, you’re giving them responsibility…I see kids, as they get more and more chores, become more and more mature, more self-confident, [and more capable].  Chores are wonderful.  I would encourage parents to structure and schedule as many chores as possible.”

- NACD Video, "Should My Child Do Chores?"

I also like what Dennis McGuire, who has done great work for the Adult Down Syndrome Center in Chicago, has said speaking on the importance of habits and routines, or what he simply described in one of his articles as established “grooves.”

“There are numerous advantages to grooves. They give an important sense of order and structure to peoples’ lives. They also help persons, who process things more slowly in a fast-moving world, have some control over their lives. Routines help to organize and manage daily living tasks which increase independence. Once an activity is learned and becomes part of a daily routine, there is rarely a need for “prompting” or supervision from others.   The ability to follow routines at set times each day can be of great benefit.”

Dennis McGuire, "The Groove"

Special Needs or not, learning to live with a sense of structure and order can make all the difference in a person’s development.  In the case of our son Isaac, we’re seeing that ring true.

Along side his brother and sister, Isaac helps out with the animals, he helps in the garden, he helps stack wood, he helps check for eggs, he helps dig posts, and set the table, and fold laundry and put away the dishes, and on we could go.   In all these examples, and many more we could mention, he is learning independence.

Of course, our kids do have plenty of  time to play as well.  Playing is just as  important a part of development as chores are.  But don’t underestimate the benefit of consistent, daily responsibility.  For us, that’s out on a farm, but whatever your context, include your child and teach them to be more independent.

Not long ago I read the classic adventure story, “Gulliver’s Travels,” published in 1726 by Jonathan Swift.

If you're unfamiliar, Gulliver's Travels is a satire-fiction that pokes fun and critiques many of the absurdities of society and man’s fallen human nature that Swift saw so evidently on display in his own time.  It’s really quite ironic, because a lot of what he gives attention to I think is reminiscent of our own day.

In addition to being an author, Swift was a clergyman of the Church of Ireland, which is the Irish branch of the Anglican church.  As a clergyman, one of the things that bothered him was the gradual decay of Christianity he saw taking place in the culture around him, and that leading to a continued erosion of man’s sense of morality.  The decline he saw in his fellow man he saw displayed in the increasing corruption of the powerful, the adoption of humanist-Enlightenment thinking, the brutal divisiveness of people toward each other, government run education in which we allow the state to brainwash our kids, and so much more.

Basically, Jonathan Swift saw the whole of mankind—including his sophisticated European brethren—acting like a bunch of Yahoos, which he incorporates into his story as a character arch of society.  Where man is shown to end up isn’t as honored stewards of the earth, but as ravenous packs of animals.  Indeed, the longer we act like animals, the more God gives us up to live like animals.  It reminds me of the indictment of Romans 1:

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity…[he] gave them up to dishonorable passions…[he] gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:24, 26, 28)

That’s man’s depraved trajectory.

But before Swift’s story gets to that final state of man's brutish corruption in the land of the Houyhnhnms, the adventure begins with Gulliver getting lost at sea and shipwrecking on the land of the Lilliputians, who are another European-like society of men though only 6 inches tall.  To them, Gulliver is a giant.

Finding Gulliver washed up on the beach after his shipwreck, the Lilliputians, with the ingenuity of their army, manage to capture him and move him to their city.  While in their custody, they seek to learn more about him, just as he uses the opportunity to try to learn more about them.

Throughout this process both Gulliver and the Lilliputians are humored by the silliness of each other’s customs and habits.  A close read reveals the jabs Swift is satirically making as he caricatures what he views to be silly customs in the real world.

At one point the Lilliputians search Gulliver’s pockets to see what kinds of things he carries around with him.  Discovering his pocket watch, a gadget unknown in their own society, the scene unfolds as follows:

"Out of the right fob hung a great silver chain, with a wonderful kind of engine at the bottom. We directed him to draw out whatever was at the end of that chain; which appeared to be a globe, half silver, and half of some transparent metal; for, on the transparent side, we saw certain strange figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our fingers stopped by the lucid substance. He put this engine into our ears, which made an incessant noise, like that of a water-mill: and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because he assured us, (if we understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did any thing without consulting it. He called it his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time for every action of his life."

Think about that.  “The pocket watch must be the man’s god, for he seldom does anything without consulting it—It points out the time for every action of his life.”

Apparently, one of the silly habits Swift saw common in his own 18^th century society was the obsessive, nearly idolatrous habit of people constantly checking their pocket watches to prompt them on what they should be doing, or where they should be, according to the particular time of day.  It was as if the pocket watch, as great an invention as it was, was dictating everyone’s morning-to-evening activities, so much so that an outside observer would assume the watch must be a person’s god because of the level of attention and devotion he gives to it.

Does any of that sound familiar?  I can’t help but think of the habit of people in our culture today, with everyone constantly checking their smartphones.  Can you relate?  I know I can.

For a lot of people today, the first thing done in the morning and the last thing done at night is a glance at the phone.  Sitting down to eat, we check our phones.  Sitting at the stop lights, we check our phones.  While standing in the elevator, we check our phones.  Even when using the restroom, I imagine, many are checking their phones.

When considering the level of devotion we assign to our phones, one has to wonder, what would an outside observer assume about us?  Is it possible they would assume our phones must be our gods because of how much attention we give to them?  Or, would they assume, like I hope they would, that our phones are just another tool, like any other item we keep in our pockets, that, while beneficial to us, don’t control us?

It’s convicting to think about.  Because it makes me evaluate how the time I actually do give in worship to the Lord compares to the time I give meditating on my phone.

I’ve had to ask myself, “How do my prayers, my Bible reading, and my time spent in devotion to the Lord measure against the amount of time I spend repetitively scrolling through my RSS feed?”  “What does the time spent on my phone say to those around me (especially to my kids who I know are watching me closely) about where my true devotions lie?”

According to Deuteronomy 6:7, I should love God so much that my kids see me diligently dwelling on the things of God “when I sit in my house, when I walk by the way, when I lie down, when I rise.”  Instead, what are they likely to see?  I’m ashamed to say it, but often times they see me diligently checking social media, not diligently seeking the Lord.

I mentioned Romans 1 earlier.  Romans 1:24 says,

 ^“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” (Romans 1:24-25)

Folks, our phones are “created things” that, if we’re not careful, can start to capture our attention and captivate our gaze more than God does.

I’m not anti-technology by any means.  In fact, I’m using technology to make this post.  Most of you are reading this post using your smartphone.  Praise God for modern inventions like the one you’re holding in your hand that can make life a little more convenient, but, the moment we regard any created thing, including our phones, higher than the Creator, and we religiously consume ourselves with it, we’re sliding further down the slippery slope of idolatry like the culture in Jonathan’s Swift’s day, and we end up living like a bunch of mindless Yahoos.

Unplug your phones every once in a while and connect with God.  Instead of checking your notifications 50 times a day, check in with God.  See what he’s already tweeted about in his Word.  I guarantee it’s worth more of your time than your favorite blogger.  It’s definitely worth more of your time than reading this post.

So, with that, I’ll end things there.  Have a fruitful day, keep a close watch on your habits, and keep an even closer eye on God!

When I was a kid, the two churches I was most familiar with in my hometown were the two churches I ever remember attending growing up, starting out at the First United Methodist Church for the first part of my childhood and then later, as I got older, the First Baptist Church.

While neither were "mega-churches" as I understand the term, both would certainly have fallen on the "larger" end of the scale with memberships in the several hundreds and multiple worship services on a Sunday Morning.  Both had large choirs, big youth programs, busy men's and women's ministries.  They had active prison-outreaches,  campground and benevolence ministries, out-of-country missions trips, and so forth.  A lot of good stuff happening!  Such was the kind of church life I grew up with and, for many years, all I really ever knew.

Later, I felt a call to ministry myself and ended up going to Bible College to learn to become a pastor.  It was there I ever seriously paid attention to the existence of any other kind of church when, as a part of our pastoral training, the Bible Department sent us young aspiring ministry majors on "Pulpit Supply appointments, " not to the kind of large churches I was familiar with, but to small country churches, some out in the middle of nowhere, at times in the middle of a corn or soybean field.

The small churches I'm talking about were your iconic little country church where the building is the sanctuary.  In some of these churches, there was no Fellowship Hall or Sunday School wing.  Some didn't even have a front foyer.  It was just a little sanctuary with two little rows of pews - a room you could literally walk from one side to the other in about 10 or 12 steps.  Again, the scene was so foreign to me, and it’s definitely not what I envisioned when I envisioned a future in pastoral ministry.   To be honest, some those early Pulpit Supply appointments were down right depressing to me.

I can remember preaching at one church, again out the middle of nowhere, where there were 4 people in attendance—that's right, just 4 people!  To make things worse, during the course of my preaching, I noticed one of the old men fell asleep on me, and another decided to leave midway through my sermon.  So that left me with an audience of two!  I confess, that experience was so discouraging to me, and my initial reaction to it was, “Well, I understand the value for young preachers to preach at small churches like this to get their feet wet, but I certainly wouldn’t want to put down ministry roots in a place like this after I’ve received my training.  What a waste.  What a waste of an educated minister’s efforts."

I’m going to have more to say about that kind of thinking in a moment, but that’s what I thought.  As I went on with my Bible training and continued making my Pulpit Supply rounds, I just assumed the end goal was to end up at a more established church, and ideally to be offered a full-time pastorate with a full-time salary.

Ironically, the more I visited these small little churches (and the more I studied my Bible), the more my attitude began to change and I began to see past the chipped paint and creaking floor boards, and I started paying attention to the old faithful saints who, rather than abandoning ship and going where all the excitement was happening at the big church across town, they sought to persevere and to hold down the fort.

Now, I’ve been around long enough to know there are lots of different reasons why churches are small and why those who attend them keep on attending them.  I understand it could be because:

• It’s what they grew up with, so it’s just what they’re used to, or
• It’s because they don’t like large crowds, and actually prefer to stay small, or
• It’s because they’d rather avoid some of the “modern” aspects they see in large churches.  Perhaps they prefer old country hymns, or traditional style worship, or
• It's because they have some kind of family stake in the church; their parents or their grandparents started the church, and they’re committed to keeping it alive.

There could be several other reasons as well, but as I surprisingly started feeling what was my own burden for these smaller churches, I don’t think my reasons were any of those.  Rather, as I’ve reflected on what changed in my thinking, I think I would sum it up with the following:

1. I have a heart for small churches because of the importance of larger, growing churches.

That is to say, I have a heart for small churches because my desire would be that they not forever remain small churches.

That’s not to say I think a small church is any less of a church because of it’s size.  Quite honestly, I could point to a few mega-churches out there that I would hesitate to even call a church because of the false teaching or the cult-like behaviors they practice.  Size doesn’t legitimize a church.  And yet, we know what God’s will is for his churches, and “church growth” is certainly on his list.  Even though, when the Bible talks about church growth, we know it’s primary emphasis isn’t numerical, but spiritual.  Ephesians 4:11-13 is pretty clear,

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,* until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”

The primary kind of church growth the Bible talks about is a growth in Christlikeness.  A church is growing, whether or not it’s taking on new members, if it is becoming more like Jesus.  But, we also know part of becoming more like Jesus is reaching and discipling people, which should naturally result in some numerical growth, hence the example of Acts 2:47:

“The Lord added to their number day by day those being saved.”

What I desire to see (and what I want to help support to whatever degree I can) is the expanded reach of those smaller church communities by encouraging more hands on deck to bolster and assist that core of disciples to be the hands and feet of Christ.  Unfortunately, I think the instinct of a lot of good and godly Christians out there is to drive past the small churches in their community in order to put their gifting to use where all the action is already happening, rather than considering the impact their gifting could make where there isn’t yet a lot of action happening, but there could be, if only they and ideally a few others invested their energies where their energies could really be used.  I have a heart for small churches because of the obvious help small churches need to do the work that they need to do in order to grow.

2. I have a heart for small churches (particularly those in rural areas) because the Great Commission includes rural areas.

I remember hearing a church planter say one time that the model of the New Testament when it comes to church ministry and missions, and therefore the apparent priority and strategy the faithful Christian should invest their attention in is primarily in urban ministry.  After all, where did the Apostle Paul go on his missionary journeys?  Well, he largely focused on the cities.  He focused on places like Ephesus, and Corinth, and Athens, and even Rome!

To that observation, I say, "I agree."   The urban centers were a big focus in Paul’s ministry.  But guess what?  Rural areas were apart of his work too.  One author writes,

“It is a significant overstatement to say that Paul’s passion was the planting of churches in metropolitan centers or in the ‘strategic cities’ of the Roman Empire.”  (Eckhard Schnabel, "Paul the Missionary")

If you read the book of Acts as a whole, you find Paul not only preached in the big cities, but you find him faithfully serving in the rural backwoods areas as well.  Just track his movements in Cyprus.  See where he goes in Galatia.  It’s not all port cities and capitols.

Not to mention the example Jesus gives us in of his ministry work.  Where does Jesus spend much of his time?  Yes, he spends some time in Jerusalem and Capernaum, but for the most part, he’s out in the countryside of Galilee interacting with the common folk.

My point isn’t to pit urban ministry vs. rural ministry, but simply to say the Great Commission includes both.

When the Master tells his servants in the parable of the Great Banquet, Luke 14, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in…,” that’s literally talking about those winding roads common in first century times that cut right through a farmer’s crops in order to connect with some more public thoroughfare.  Literally, that's talking about those paths out in the middle of the cornfield.

My heart is to see not only those in the inner city, or in some fast-growing suburban area, come to Christ.  I do want to see that.  But, I also want to see that happening in the boondocks too.

3. I have a heart for small churhces because God is just as present in small churches than he is in big churches.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."  The truth is, it doesn’t take a talented worship team, 60+ person choir, orchestra ensemble, or professionally trained worship leader to facilitate real Christian worship in a Gospel church.  Sure, those things are wonderful additions to worship and I personally love being in churches that have them.  But, they aren’t fundamentally required elements in order for worship to happen.

I admit, one of the neatest scenes of worship described in the Old Testament is when Asaph and all the other trained musicians are brought to the temple to worship the Lord in I Chronicles 15 and 16.  No doubt, the impression we’re meant to be left with in that scene is just how glorifying and honoring such organized and well performed worship is to the Lord.

But remember what Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4.  After she raises the question of which is better, to worship on the Mountain in Samaria or to worship where the Jews worship at the temple in Jerusalem.  You would think the correct answer is at the temple, with all its special elements of worship, but instead Jesus says:

“Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…The hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:21, 23)

Point being, worship can happen anywhere.  It isn’t tied to one place, especially not to one place that appears particularly equipped for worship.  No, “real worship” can happen in Jerusalem, it can happen in Samaria, it can happen in the small synagogues of the country just as much as it can happen in the large facilities of the temple.  For that matter, you don’t even need a small synagogue, which technically would require a minimum of 10 adult men to hold a service according to Jewish tradition.  Jesus says, where 2 or 3 are gathered, you can worship corporately.  The Lord is present there.

4. I have a heart for small churches because small flocks need shepherds too.

Paul wrote to Titus is Titus 1:5,

"This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you."

Think about that, appoint “elders” (i.e. pastors) in every town.  Even the small town?  Even in those little towns that have a total population of 42?  Yes!   Appoint elders in "every town."

I already shared the story of how I used to think about small churches when I was first studying to become a pastor.  But sometime I've come to discover since is that I was hardly alone in my ministry bias against small churches.

As I’ve interacted with different seminary students and fellow pastors since that time, more often than not, I meet men who tell me they won’t even consider serving at a small church either because, they say, they have to support their family and require a full-time position, which, obviously, only a larger church can provide.  I guess the bi-vocational example of Paul as a “tent-maker” isn’t something they’re willing to consider for themselves.

Or they’ll say, having been to seminary, their level of education over-qualifies them for a smaller church and that their gifting would evidently be better suited in a big church.

I’m so grateful for educated pastors who are well equipped to feed the flock, but, listen, when Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every town, his qualifications list applied across the board, not just for big churches.  And interestingly, those qualifications don't even mention a Master of Divinity degree or a doctorate, but a character of godliness and a faithfulness to uphold the plain message of Gospel as it’s been given to us.

It's again unfortunate, but I think the attitude of a lot of pastors out there is to treat smaller churches simply as a training ground, or a stepping-stone, to get to a higher rung on the ministry ladder.  In fact, I know one pastor whose served at something like 7 different churches over the years, each church a little larger and providing a slightly bigger salary package than the one before.  And what’s the result of that?  Well, one of the results of that is that the smaller churches (the lower rungs on the ladder so to speak) can hardly hold on to any of their pastor for longer than a year or two before they move on to something bigger and better.  I understand sometimes a church can’t hold on to their pastors because they have a habit of running off their pastors (that’s another topic altogether).  Often though it's a pastor's ambitions that draw him away.

I love the advice of an older pastor, writing to one of his younger students recently ordained over a small congregation who’s somewhat discouraged about the small size of his church.  The wiser, older pastor writes:

“I know the vanity of your heart, and that you will feel mortified that your congregation is very small, in comparison with those of your brethren around you; but assure yourself on the word of an old man, that when you come to give an account of them to the Lord Christ, at His judgment-seat, you will think you have had enough.”  (John Brown, cited by Alexander Grossart in The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes).

That is sound advice.  Pastors will give an account for the souls under their care (Hebrews 13:17).  And while most pastors want to see their congregations grow and have an increasing number of sheep in their fold, the weight of responsibility that rests on their shoulders even with a small flock will prove heavy enough when we answer to Christ on Judgement Day.

CONCLUSION

I could keep going, but I'll leave it at that.  To end with a short word of encouragement:

If you are a lay-person in the church, perhaps searching for a new church home, don't rule out the small churches just because they’re small and because they don't have all the fancy amenities that the big church down the road has.  Consider the impact your attendance, your involvement, your gifting could make in a smaller church setting.  If a smaller church environment just doesn’t “feel” like church in your experience, look at the New Testament.  Look at the small house churches that started out there without big youth groups, or singles ministries, or mother’s day out programs—as beneficial as some of those things can be--the New Testament church didn’t have those things.  It was just a family of believers who had all things in common (Acts 2).

Or, if you are an aspiring pastor out there and gearing up to serve in a church, don’t assume that bigger churches are necessarily a more God-glorifying place to be.  It’s not the size of a ministry that validates the minister, it’s his faithfulness in ministry.  If God puts you in a big church, that’s wonderful, be faithful in that.  If God puts you in a small church, that’s also wonderful.  Just be faithful.  Be content.  Serve the Lord.

So, a bit of a disclaimer right off the bat:  I have never read the whole “Anne of Green Gables” anthology of 8 or so books by Canadian author Lucy Montgomery, published in the early 1900s.  I did track down and borrow from a friend an old copy of the first book in the series so I could compare that to what I know about the 1985 movie, which I have watched several times.

Like most guys growing up with a mom and a sister who were both partial to the story, and now, being married, having a wife and a daughter who also enjoy this sort of thing, I’ve become somewhat familiar with the adventures of Anne Shirley, and I won’t forget that’s Anne spelled with an “e.”

To my shame (…and I apologize to my wife for it), I'm not that romantic of a guy; I don't get very sentimental when it comes to the whole "coming-of-age" story line, especially not one written for young women about a somewhat awkward, freckle-face, red-headed orphan girl who always has her head in the clouds, dreaming about poetry, flowers, bosom friends, and kindred spirits.  That is, of course, until she begins to mature through the catalysts of a loving family, a good education, discipline, falling in love and so forth.  It's a classic girl's story.

But I will say, whenever I watch the movie (and having also read the book), there is something about it all that grabs my attention and sparks my thinking.  It first shows up somewhat early in the story as little orphan Anne arrives at the train station to be picked up by one “Matthew Cuthbert.”

Matthew is an older gentlemen in his 60’s who, because of some developing heart problems, could use an extra set of hands on the farm.  With the support of his sister, Marilla (neither of whom ever married in life or had children), they set out to adopt a boy.  To his surprise, the orphanage by mistake sends Anne, who obviously isn't a boy at all.

On the carriage ride home to Matthew & Marilla's farm known as “Green Gables,”  they pass through the picturesque countryside of Prince Edward Island with its cherry trees and apple trees in blossom that immediately captures Anne’s imagination.

What jumps out at me about their commute, however, isn't how splendid the scenery is and how delightful it would be to live there, though that is a thought that naturally comes to mind.  What jumps out to me in particular is how remarkable of a character the man whose driving Anne back to the farm must have.

I don't know how he's portrayed in other movie versions, but the casting in the 1985 version is so compelling to me.  It’s not just compelling, it’s actually convicting to me.  It’s convicting because I know, if I were to put myself in his shoes, and if I had heart problems and knew that my health depended on a strong and reliable young man to help me out, only now to have a “daydreamer” on my hands who talks far more than she gets things done—not to mention, because she’s a girl, there’s not going to be much help digging post holes and plowing fields—my reaction to that whole monkey-wrench-in-the-plans would probably be a lot less charitable.

And yet, to see Matthew Cuthbert’s reaction, and the kindness, grace, and humility he displays, all I can say is, I see more Christlikeness in him than I often see in myself.  By the way, I know we’re just talking about a fictional character here, but even Jesus spoke in parables and pointed to imagined characters to model righteous examples.

Of course, I’m not that familiar with where the author herself is coming from in terms of her personal beliefs, and what her own Christian convictions are that are written into the story.  I will say it seems pretty obvious there are Christian references made throughout the book, and a clear Christian faith shared by most of the characters.

For example, I noticed how the main character of Anne herself is described as a Christian, though its apparent very early on that what she’s missing is a bit of discipleship.  In one of the chapters, she admits she's never been in the habit of praying very much, which she says is on account of her being upset with God because he made her with red hair.  To this, Marilla reacts in shock,

"Why, Anne, what do you mean?  Were you never taught to say your prayers?...Don't you know who God is, Anne?"

Anne replies back,

"God is spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."

That is a word-for-word quote of the Westminster catechism.  Apparently, she’s received some Bible training.  She just needs a little help saying her prayers, which Marilla proceeds to disciple her in.

In another chapter, Anne voices her appreciation for good preaching and solid sermons that “have such an influence for good, if their theology is sound” and able to stir a hearers’ heart.  On that note, in one of her typical daydreams, she imagines, if she were a man, how much she would like to be a preacher and craft sermons so much more interesting than most preachers preach.

At another point she talks about her understanding of what it means to be “regenerate,” and, upon meeting the new minister’s wife, how encouraged she is that instead of being so melancholy, she has met a Christian who is full of joy, kindness, and sincerity.

I see a lot of Christian undertones in the characters.  I especially see it in the Matthew Cuthbert character.  Even if it’s not explicitly said, I see a kind of Christlikeness built into his temperament that speaks for itself.

Matthew is described as a shy and meek man, content to live peacefully and quietly at his home of Green Gables.  He listens more than he talks.  He is so gentle that he’s saddened every time he has to put down a lamb or calf.  Whenever he is upset (or “perturbed of mind”), rather than expressing his anxiety with anger or frustration, his way of venting involves sitting in a chair, smoking his pipe, and calmly thinking it through.  He shows kindness in his gift giving of candy and puffed-sleeve dresses.  He is quick to forgive. He is an advocate for Anne when others are against her.

It is Matthew who decides first, despite the orphanage’s mistake, to adopt Anne.  I find that to be such a Gospel-like display.  Here is an unwanted girl, who has much to be desired in what she can offer on the farm, at least to the benefit of Matthew.  Matthew has the most to lose in choosing Anne, but choose her he does, ultimately to his own demise.  By the end of the book, Matthew’s heart problems don’t improve and he does end up dying from, among other things, working himself too hard.

But his sacrifice is worth it.  Why?  Because in choosing this little girl he ends up being blessed himself not only in the satisfaction that comes in showing grace to someone who can never pay you back, but in the joy that’s experienced in watching that person thrive because of the new life your sacrifice made possible.

Right before he dies, Anne scores high marks on one of her academic tests.  Matthew is beaming with pride of Anne while at the same time drooping physically because of his declining health.

In that moment Anne notices Matthew doesn't look so good as he goes about his farm chores:

“You’ve been working too hard today, Matthew,” she said reproachfully. “Why won’t you take things easier?”

“Well now, I can’t seem to,” said Matthew, as he opened the yard gate to let the cows through. “It’s only that I’m getting old, Anne, and keep forgetting it. Well, well, I’ve always worked pretty hard and I’d rather drop in harness.”

“If I had been the boy you sent for,” said Anne wistfully, “I’d be able to help you so much now and spare you in a hundred ways. I could find it in my heart to wish I had been, just for that.”

“Well now, I’d rather have you than a dozen boys, Anne,” said Matthew patting her hand. “Just mind you that—rather than a dozen boys. Well now, I guess it wasn’t a boy that took the Avery scholarship, was it? It was a girl—my girl—my girl that I’m proud of.”

It’s not long after that, Matthew dies, yet he was convinced, he’d rather have Anne than a dozen boys.  Never mind the fact that just one boy could have added more years to his life.  This is a man did nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility counted Anne more significant than himself.

Does that remind you of anyone?  Philippians 2 says, speaking of Christ and the influence Christ has on those who know him:

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Did you catch that?  Christians are called to “have this mind among yourselves.”  I find that so encouraging because, more than anything, I want to be that kind of person.  I want to be like Matthew Cuthbert. I want to have the mind and heart that he had, which is first modeled for us in Christ.

There’s a story I ran across several years ago that has really helped influence my thinking on the important difference between being “successful” and being “fruitful” in life.  The idea is that one can work hard, stay relatively productive, and become genuinely successful in a particular field of work while honestly not accomplishing anything ultimately meaningful when it’s all said and done.  Or, at least, discovering, when it is all said and done, what was truly meaningful about it could have been accomplished so much sooner in life and with a much more direct path.

I think the story was originally written by an author named Mark Albion, though I first saw it in one of Tim Ferriss’ books.  It’s called “The Parable of the Mexican Fishermen,” or “The Parable of the Businessman and the Fisherman.”  The story goes like this:

There was a young businessman on vacation at a small Mexican coastal village.  One day, while standing at the pier, he noticed a small boat with just one fisherman returning to the cove after a short time of casting on the water.  The fisherman moored his little vessel to the dock with several large yellow-fin tuna inside the boat.  The businessman looked at the fisherman’s catch and complimented him on the quality of the fish and asked him how long it took to catch them.  “Only a little while,” the fisherman replied.

A little surprised, the young businessman asked, “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?

The content fisherman said, “This is enough to support my family’s immediate needs. I don’t need any more.”

“But what do you do with the rest of your time?,” asked the confused young man.

“Well, I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a walk with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, Señor.”

The businessman scoffed, “Let me give you some advice.  I’m a Harvard graduate with an MBA and know a little bit about business.  If you spent more time fishing and with the proceeds bought a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you bought several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.  Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing, and distribution. Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal village and move to Mexico City and, perhaps, eventually to New York, where you could run the headquarters of your growing enterprise.”

The fisherman asked, “How long will this all take?”

The young man replied, “Oh, 15-20 years, if you work hard.”

“What then?,” asked the fisherman.

The businessman laughed and said “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich.  You could make millions.”

“Millions, Señor? Then what?”

“Then, my friend, you could retire, move to a small coastal fishing village where you can sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a walk with your wife, stroll to the village every evening where you can sip wine and play the guitar with your amigos.”

If there’s any takeaway from that story, I suppose it’s not to bash the hard-working Harvard graduate or business executive.  I for one am very grateful for those who clock the time behind the big desk to keep the gears of our modern, global economy moving, but it does make you think.  It makes you think about what in life you’re really working toward and how direct of a path you’ve chosen to get there.

I know some people tend to work for the sake of work itself, while others out there will work more as a means to some other end.  I tend to fall in the latter camp.  The question then is to what end are we working, and do we really think that end can only be reached at some distant date on the calendar, say, when we finally reach the higher rung on the company ladder, or that comfortable number in our retirement fund.

If you’re working for some material end—say, a larger nest egg, a more prestigious position, maybe it’s a bigger house, or something like that—I imagine it may very well take you until retirement to reach that.  But, if you’re working towards something more intangible—say, a stronger marriage, or trying to build character in your kids, or giving more time to ministry in your local church and community, or growing closer to the Lord—I’ll tell you, it would be a mistake not to give as much attention to those things as you can afford to do now.  Why?  Because those things don’t require more dollars in the bank, or more degrees on the wall, or more busywork logged on the time sheet in order for fruitfulness and fulfillment to happen.

The story of the Mexican Fisherman reminds me a lot of the story in Luke 10 when Jesus visited the house of Mary and Martha.  In that account, Mary was content to sit at the feet of Jesus in order to spend time with him on a personal level, while the text says Martha was distracted with much serving, running around the house to get things done.  While Mary was just sitting on the floor talking with Jesus, Martha voiced her complaint, “Lord do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.”

From Martha’s perspective, it didn’t look like Mary was being very productive.  But what did Jesus say in reply?  He said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her.”

Mary chose “the good portion.”  Question—does that describe your life?  Have you chosen the good portion?  Have you chosen what is truly fruitful and meaningful in life over the mere illusion of achievement, productivity and busyness?  Are you wasting precious years of your life, or your spouse's and your kid’s lives, or the life of your church family, detouring around the very destination that’s right in front of you?  I encourage you, take a lesson from Mary and the Mexican Fisherman.  The fact is you can be very productive and successful in your work and not very fruitful in your life.