I remember as a child playing in a huge creek, which meandered gracefully through our hill country farm in serpentine fashion. For the most part, it was a dry bed, except after heavy rains when there would be a lot of water for a few days. Then a few little pools scattered here and there would remain. There was very little life, except a few crayfish, and occasionally, a catfish or a tired, ailing bass would be washed down from a far away distance.
But contentment came to life in that little ravine when my brother and I would find ourselves lost in time in the hypnotic trance of make believe contrivances of our youth. Imaginations would go wild with all sorts of diversions that can only be left to the captivating memories of the past.
I will never forget one spring morning, while mentally in the pursuit of Mt. Everest; a new experience engulfed the mind, of this world-renowned 6-year-old mountain climber. Of course it was only a 12 to 15 foot cliff along the creek bed, but for me the experience was all the same. I was attempting to press on to the summit of this giant peak, when all of a sudden I heard a call from my brother who was some 30 or 40 yards around the bend.
But this call was different. I heard my name ring three or four times around the curve of the landscape, and I experienced for the first time, at least in my memory, the meaning of an echo. What a thrill. That was an unexpected event, and I quickly called back. “Did you hear that” and at the same time I heard reverberations; THAT, That that…coming right back at me, as I looked up and saw him walking toward me.
He asked me what I was talking about, and when I explained about the noises that were following the words, he said sure, that was just an echo. He walked back behind the bend and said, “hey Dummy, do you hear the echo, ECHO, Echo, echo?”
I did hear it. I was very conscious of it, and yelled right back. Yeah Doofus, I hear it, never giving much attention to the endearing names we yelled at each other. And those names never did really bother us, unless we were mad or angry. At least for that moment, the experience was so great I was enthralled with trying to figure out the echo.
But little did I know, that later in life, the echo would become a part of a divine message that would have such impactful meaning. When I think about the echoes of my past, I see them in two ways. They can be very endearing to me, or they can be misery. I work hard at forgetting about the bad things of my past, and trying to see all the good. I try to live out the message I see in the echo from Luke 6:27-42, about loving our enemies, and not judging others. I try to remember that out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things that have been stored up in his heart, while the evil man brings evil things out of his. Think on these terms if your heart becomes full of anger, hatred and resentment. As you walk through the mountainous caverns, canyons and ravines of life, and you yell out hatred from your mouth, that echo will return. HATRED, Hatred, hatred. But on the other hand, what if you walk through these same canyons, and by your own choice scream out to your neighbor, I LOVE YOU, look at what is going to return in the echo. Love from the father.
I challenge you during this week to take a close look at this wonderful passage from Luke, and listen for the echoes.
Love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you.
If someone strikes you, turn the other cheek.
If someone takes your coat, give him your tunic.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Help others without expecting anything in return.
Remember to love and give, and it will be given back to you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Just as the echo reverberates back to your ear, so will the blessings reverberate back into your life.
Above all, take a look at verse 38 and let it echo back into your heart. Then put it in your memory bank this week if at all possible.
Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38
Dock Caton 06/25/2011
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