“But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.”1 Corinthians 12:31 (The Message)
On
August 12 I attended a memorial service for a man who had been a
mentor and a friend for me, and for my two sons – for my whole
family, really. Malcolm Williams was the founder and director of Camp
Country Lad in Monterey, Tennessee. Since 1962, Malcolm had dedicated
his life to molding the character of boys and young men through his
summer camp.
His memorial service was held at the outdoor church of
the camp – a collection of hand-hewn log benches arranged in a
semi-circle facing a beautiful lake; a lone cross stands at the front
of this amazing “sanctuary.” Over 300 CCL alumni and friends of
Malcolm and his family attended the service, most of whom traveled
several hundred miles just for the occasion.
The
day was full of tears and laughter. At 82 years of age, Malcolm had
lived a wonderful life, and he had a powerful impact on thousands of
boys and young men through the years. Throughout the day –
including at the service, around the lunch table, along the hiking
trails, and around the campfire that night – people were telling
stories about the personal influence Malcolm had on our lives.
I
am grateful beyond words for the wisdom, love, and friendship that
Malcolm shared with me and my two sons through our more than 35
summers at camp (cumulatively).
But
this blog entry isn't simply about an exceptional man and role model.
I came away from the weekend in Tennessee with a powerful spiritual
insight reinforced in my heart.
My
experiences at CCL, and my recollection of Malcolm Williams, brought
to mind for me the fact that the New Testament contains a vast
collection of lists – lists that lay out for us how we should live
and what life should look like for followers of Jesus Christ.
Jesus
shared such a list in his famous “Beatitudes” of Matthew 5:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God...(Matthew 5:3-9)
You
find similar lists in Paul's writings, such as in Galatians 5, where
Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Or
in one of Paul's most-quoted passages, where he describes what love
looks like:
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies...
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (The Message)
There
are other lists with similar exemplary character traits for which we
should strive in our lives. The point of all these lists, I believe,
is to paint a picture of what it looks like to grow and live into
Christlikeness. We are, after all, a new creation in Christ; it only
makes sense that life in Christ looks different than life without
Christ. To conform our lives to the traits enumerated in these lists
is, in a very real way, to show the world what Jesus Christ is like.
Even
more than the words we say about Jesus, the way we live as his
followers helps people understand and experience Jesus and his
infinite, eternal love for us.
While
I hope we all strive for these Christlike traits for our lives, every
once in a while you come across a person who manifests Christlikeness
with grace and humility. Malcolm Williams was one of those people. He
embodied the character of the person described by the beatitudes; he
exhibited the fruit of the Spirit in its completeness; and by the way
he related to others he fulfilled the definition of love.
Malcolm
would be the first person to tell me to stop describing him like
this. Because he was humble to the core. And it was never about him.
It was about Jesus, who loved Malcolm with an everlasting love, and
whom Malcolm loved with his whole being.
And
ultimately that's what it's all about. It's about letting the love of
Jesus Christ fill our hearts and inform our lives. It's about living
in such a way that when people see us, they get a glimpse into the
One who has saved us and who has made us who we are: Jesus Christ.
So
here's what all of us should do. We should look at those lists, and
ask, “Does that describe me?” When Paul tells us that love is
patient, kind, not envious or boastful, etc., is Paul describing me?
Because
if those traits describe us, then it means that Jesus is shining
through.
Think
of the people who are the Malcolm Williamses of your life – people
who have been your spiritual mentors, or people whose lives make you
want to be a better person. Take your cue from them, to live your
whole life making Jesus known.
I
want to share a poem that was on the back of the bulletin for
Malcolm's memorial service. It speaks to the importance of living the
exemplary life, because others are watching. It makes me ask myself,
when people see my life, am I comfortable with them following in my
steps?
I
hope so.
For Christ's sake, I hope so.
A
careful man I want to be;
A
little fellow follows me.
I
do not dare to go astray
For
fear he'll go the self-same way.
I
cannot once escape his eyes,
Whatever
he sees me do, he tries.
Like
me he says he's going to be;
this
little Lad who follows me.
He
thinks that I'm so very fine,
Believes
in every word of mine.
The
base in me he must not see;
this
little Lad who follows me.
I
must remember as I go
Through
summer's sun and winter snow,
I'm
building for the years to be;
The
little Lad who follows me.
Thank you, Steve.
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