CWE Pre Camp Devo #8

2 Peter 1:5-7

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness…”

Matthew 25:35-40

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

“A LONG WAY FROM GEORGIA”

She was born and raised in South Georgia (or as she says,“SouuuuthGeoooojuh”).  That in itself is nothing out of the ordinary.  Hundreds of thousands of people over the years were born and raised in South Georgia, but to imply that this stout, middle-aged woman from “SouuuuuthGeoooojuh” was in any way ordinary would be a severe misstatement.  I first met her sometime in the 1970s.  A group of us from my church had decided to volunteer at a local youth center in the impoverished wards of inner-city Houston.  She was what we called back then a “home missionary,” meaning she had dedicated her life to spreading the gospel right here in the good old U.S.A.  Her name was Mildred McWhorter, and she left quite a legacy.  Sometime in the mid to early 60s, she had decided to move to Houston, Texas, to a ghetto neighborhood that was populated by a combination of Caucasian, Hispanic, and African Americans…none of whom got along with one another.  She told me how, after the first night she spent in her sparse quarters(one punctuated by gunshots and police sirens), she awakened, went downstairs, and saw that all 4 of her tires were slashed.  Unfazed, she replaced her tires, began parking her car in a more secure spot, and set about to do her work.  She provided food, shelter, clothing, and counseling.  She stared down bullies and endured threats and insults that would have driven most people away.  But not Mildred. She stayed. 

As time went by the community came to trust her, invest with her, and partner with her.  One day when she was threatened by a punk gang member, another former gang member (whohad been the one who slashed her tires that first night she spent in the ghetto) drove the punk gang member away.  All the while letting it be known that Mildred was under his protection, and anybody who messed with Mildred was messing with him.  Mildred served for over 30 years in the inner city of Houston.The lives she touched and the eternal consequences of her work are no doubt still being measured today.  One Friday evening, when I was working with Mildred, I asked her “Why?” “Why did she do what she did?”  Her response was not complex, but it was profound.  “Sam,” she said, “I love these people and so does God.”  And that was it. 

In reality, that is IT!!!!  Peter tells us that a huge part of practicing the Christian faith is to exhibit brotherly kindness.  True brotherly kindness is a result of true godliness based on our faith and goodness and knowledge and self-control and perseverance.  This summer is a laboratory in the practice of brotherly kindness.  Your whole role this summer is to serve joyfully the needs of others.  Not every role at camp is out front.  Not every task at camp is something you absolutely cannot wait to do.  Not every child at camp is easy.  But, every one of them is a child of God.  And if you are who you say you are, thenyou will treat them, in every situation, just exactly like you would want to be treated yourself.  The Golden Rule is perhaps the essence of establishing legitimacy as a Christian and legitimacy as a summer staff member.  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Every single one of us knows those words.  Every single one of us understands that is what Christ wants us to do.  Every single one of us talks the talk.  This summer you will have a chance to walk the walk…the walk of brotherly kindness.  If you ask me, all you have to do is have the attitude of an old lady from “SouuuuuuthGeoooojuh.” Thanks, Mildred. Let’s roll.