The View from the Vicarge - November 2009

The continuing story of Jack and Jill…

Jack was about to marry Jill and his father took him to one side, 'When I married your mother, the first thing I did when we got home was take off my trousers,' he said. 'I gave them to your mother and told her to put them on. When she did, they were enormous on her and she said to me that she couldn't possibly wear them, as they were too large. I told her, 'of course they're too big. I wear the trousers in this family and I always will.' Ever since that day, we have never had a single problem. 'Jack took his father's advice and as soon as he got Jill alone after the wedding, he did the same thing; took off his trousers, gave them to Jill and told her to put them on. Jill said that the trousers were too big and she couldn't possibly wear them. 'Exactly,' replied Jack. 'I wear the trousers in this relationship and I always will. I don't want you to forget that.' Jill paused and removed her knickers and gave them to Jack. 'Try these on,' she said, so he tried them on but they were too small. 'I can't possibly get into your knickers,' said Jack. 'Exactly,' replied Jill. 'And if you don't change your attitude, you never will.'

Jokes are great vehicles for showing up our underlying attitudes. Most of us have a natural tendency to be just like Jack and Jill – selfish and controlling. It’s the part of our humanity that messes up relationships and the world we live in. I don’t think Jack and Jill’s marriage would have gone the distance.

Jesus made it clear that this is not God’s way. His way is of unselfish, unwarranted, unstoppable, unending love for others. Jesus said: ‘Love God and love your neighbour as yourself.’ He calls us to be unselfish, just like him, if we want a better world, a better atmosphere at work and home, a better relationship with those we love. He calls us to stand up for the rights of others but not our own. He told us to love our enemies, to love the unlovable, to ‘go the extra mile’, to take care of the stranger. It’s hard to sacrifice ourselves like this but oh so worth it!

A world without any selfishness would be heaven, wouldn’t it?

Shalom

Revd Derek Witchell
01296 682320