This is a true story about a sermon that will live in the annals of preaching history. A young deacon studying for priesthood was required to preach a sermon about Jesus the Good Shepherd. He worked for days to make this sermon so memorable no one would ever forget it. Before stepping to the podium, he went back into the sacristy. People wondered what is he doing? The deacon reappeared in the sanctuary with something that took the congregation by surprise. To punctuate his message, he came out hoisting a live lamb wrapped around his shoulders just like the picture of Jesus holding a lamb. The congregation didn’t know what to think. They never saw anything like this before.

The deacon began to preach the message that Jesus holds us just like I’m holding this docile lamb on my shoulders. He was energized by the captive audience hanging on his every word. Sadly, his euphoria turned to dread. The little lamb became “undocile.” The deacon did not consider that like a little baby, when it’s time to go, you just go. That lamb dumped all over him and all over the sanctuary. The congregation froze not knowing what to do. Courageously, the deacon kept preaching with the smelly little critter still hanging on his shoulders. The deacon got his wish. No one ever forgot this sermon! It is no surprise that no one took Communion from the deacon that day.

During my 40 years as a hospital chaplain, I have seen God get dumped on. I believe God picks you up when life knocks you down. God places you around His loving, caring shoulders. Yet, that doesn’t stop some believers from dumping on God their anger or bitterness because they or someone they love is sick. I dealt with this “anger dumping” on God for many years at Children’s Hospital. The anger was so intense, so real, so palpable. Their anger showed itself in the “Why” question. “God, why does my innocent child have this terrible sickness?” I never tried to answer that question because there is no human answer. Only God knows.

There is a beautiful message from the great tennis star Arthur Ashe to anyone who is asking God, “Why.” He was the f irst African American to win the singles title at Wimbledon. In 1983, he was dying from AIDS which he got from a tainted blood transfusion during heart bypass surgery. He received many letters of support from fans. A question from one fan haunted him. “Why did God let you have such a bad disease?” Arthur had to answer it. Here was his reply:

5 million children learned to play tennis.

500,000 learned to play professional tennis.

50,000 joined the tour.

5,000 reached the Grand Slam

50 reached Wimbledon

4 reached the Semifinals

2 reached the Finals

“When I was holding the victory cup in my hand, I never asked God, ‘Why me?’ Now that I’m in pain, I have no need to ask God, ‘Why me?’ I am blessed either way.”

I have learned from working in AA, you must take life on life’s terms and find the blessing in everything. A parishioner wrote to me this gem of wisdom, “A child on a farm sees a plane in the sky and wishes he could fly. A pilot on the plane sees the farmhouse on the land and wishes he could return home.”

When angry parents at Children’s would ask me “Why,” I would respond by saying it’s the wrong question. You will never get an answer to the “Why.” Instead, ask “What.” Ask God, “What will you do to help my child?” Then forge ahead with Faith.

The deacon of our story became a very beloved priest in 1977. He became a well-known preacher giving retreats across the country. Sadly, he passed into Heaven in 2001 at the young age of 50 from cancer. Some may ask, “Why.” He would probably answer, “Why not? God carried me on His shoulders to paradise. I am blessed.” Blessings to you… Fr. Mike