Dear brothers and sisters in Christ –
Things are not always what they seem!
This was a lesson that I learned in a management training course at Disney University. Going through the management training program, this lesson stands out in my mind still today.
The instructor pointed over to the Bunn coffee maker and on the hot plate, there it sat. It had an orange plastic handle and ring around the top with a pouring spout. The clear glass was imprinted with the Bunn company logo and revealed the dark colored coffee contained inside. Pointing, the instructor asked, what is that. Well, even the most casual observer responded, “A pot of coffee.” We have seen that in every break room and every roadside café. Can’t you just see Alice, better yet, Flo from the TV show “Alice” wondering around the restaurant swinging her decanter of coffee. Regular? Or Decaf?
Things are not always what they seem!
Then the instructor walked over to the coffee pot, picked it up, and asked, “Who needs a refill?” To the left side of the room someone shouted, “Me!” The instructor walked over and tipped the decanter and nothing poured out. It was still black on the inside. Then the instructor said, “Things are not always what they seem!”
Most of the people at the Chicago Children’s Hospital did not know her name. They just knew her as the sweet, elderly lady in the vivid red suit who wanted to make sure that every sick child had a teddy bear to hug and caress. She kept bringing the stuffed animals, purchased with her own money. That is why she was simply called “The Teddy Bear Lady.”
Her name was Gladys Holm, a retired secretary for an insurance company, who lived alone in a tiny apartment. She lived modestly and frugally, and loved to save and invest – for the purpose of giving and helping people, especially sick children. When she died at age 86, her will simply directed that the bulk of her estate be given to the Children’s Memorial Hospital in the amount of $18 million!
Things are not always what they seem!
No one had the slightest idea that the tall, happy woman delivering teddy bears to ailing children had such wealth. It was then, they also learned that the gifts of teddy bears were really a ruse. She gave away teddy bears to learn more about the financial resources of families of the children. When she learned that the parents did not have enough to cover medical expenses, she very quietly paid their bills.
Things are not always what they seem!
The coffee pot was not filled with coffee, but was coated with black paint on the inside of the glass decanter. The reality is that the teddy bears were only a ruse. Her real purpose was to find financially needy families.
Things are not always what they seem!
The same can be said about Jesus and the cross. Locked in the upper room because they feared for their lives, the disciples could not see the reality that Jesus’ death was God’s plan, was the fulfillment of all the prophetic prophecies, was the payment by
Jesus, Our Redeemer. His death actually happened, but death could not hold Jesus.
Things are not always what they seem!
Jesus rose from the dead! Easter’s morning had come, and one day Easter’s morning will come for each Christian. I believe in the resurrection of the body. When death comes, things are not always what they seem, for this dead body shall rise!
Things are not always what they seem!
Remember this throughout the season of Lent which begins with Ash Wednesday on March 2nd.
Lenten blessings,
Pastor Hartwig