Tag: wisdom

It is an honor to be with you this morning.

Doesn’t matter if you are watching on-line or here in the Sanctuary, we are happy that you joined us.

Will you join me in prayer?

Father of us all, we thank you for the privilege of worshipping this morning. Over the next few minutes, touch our hearts. Amen

I truly am honored to be with you.

When I have this opportunity to pinch-hit in the pulpit, I always offer some disclaimers.

First, I’m no expert on anything. My wife can affirm that.

Second, I’m no theologian or Biblical scholar.

And finally, while I did complete the process to become a certified lay speaker, I’m sure if leaders for the district and conference checked carefully, they might find that my credentials need renewal.

Despite those disclaimers let’s get started.

On the afternoon of Monday, June 15, I was in Trinity Hall. I was quietly putting away chairs and tables from a Saturday afternoon event.

At some point, I took a break, and checked my phone.

I saw I had a missed call. The person had left a voice mail.

That’s when I learned your pastor, Mark, was looking for a substitute, a pinch hitter for this morning.

My mind slipped back into my years in public education and as a student too. When the regular teacher was out for a day, sometimes good students took on a different persona. Depending upon their skills, often a substitute teacher could have a challenging day.

So, I accepted Mark’s invitation, and with some regret, I promise to behave.

Today is Father’s Day.

At Trinity on Father’s Day, the men have a tradition of wearing Hawaiian shirts. Years ago, one of our usher teams brought in this practice. In truth, its been fun. But for the benefit of your eyes, I opted to spare you the vision of an old guy in a flamboyant Hawaiian shirt.

In preparing for this morning, I pondered multiple scripture options related to fathers. As you know, the Bible has many stories linked to fathers.

I considered Abraham. I thought about the father of the Prodigal Son, and even Mary’s husband, Joseph.

But for some reason, I was drawn to Proverbs Chapter 4 verses 1-15. I think my pull was the multiple references to wisdom.

The movie The Shooter is too violent for me to recommend that you watch it. However, there is a memorable scene in the film about wisdom.

Two of the characters, who are in a bit of hot water, meet with an elderly man who is known for his expertise as a gunsmith.

This expert looks at his two guests and says to them, “You boys come along way, what you looking for?”

One of the guest’s replies: “wisdom.”

With no hesitation, the gunsmith responds, “You come to the wrong place.”

I’m not sure about you, but often in my attempts to deal with this crazy world of ours, I find that I need wisdom.

I wonder where do you go to get wisdom today?

Do you sit at your computer and ask AI your wisdom question?

Do you phone a friend?

In looking for your much needed wisdom, might you do some in depth research?

Or, do you still come to this Sanctuary on Sunday mornings to find the wisdom you need?

Years ago, my search for wisdom would take me to my father or to my father-in-law. Even though their growing up environments were very different, their experiences in life had made them wise. I knew these cherished men would be able to guide me.

Today, I have a very predictable wisdom routine. I start my day by reading the daily devotional in the Upper Room. That quiet time also includes a long prayer connected to my lengthy prayer list.

Yet, I can tell you— nothing else related to the day ahead of me starts until my devotion and prayer time is completed.

Somedays, I find wisdom in the words from strangers who have written those devotionals and live on the other side of the world.

Other days, the scripture reading pushes me to carefully think about the life lessons available from these verses.

Part of what drew me to our scripture reading this morning from Chapter Four of Proverbs were the references to wisdom.

Additionally, from those fifteen verses, I’m drawn to these words: listen, insight, teaching, heart, paths, and evildoers.

The author makes it clear that if you gain wisdom you also need to pickup some insight.

How many times in your life has your insight come from reliving a challenging moment through your rearview mirror? In that reflection, do you ever silently say to yourself, I wish I had responded differently?

Our lives take us down many paths. The scripture warns us that evildoers can be along the way. We are advised not to go down that path to turn away.

Despite those warnings, that wisdom, that insight, some of us fall in with the evildoers. Why is that?

In his book Somebody Told Me, author, Rick Bragg, writes about America. The book is based upon articles that he wrote as a reporter for the New York Times. Mr. Bragg won a Pulitzer Prize for his work. Included in the book are several articles related to the tragic mass shootings that have plagued America.

One of the saddest of these shootings is about Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden. When these two opened fire on their school, Mitchell was fourteen and Andrew eleven.

Everyone wants to know how can a fourteen year old and an eleven year old do such a thing? Where did the shooters go wrong? Did these troubled individuals go wrong because they had no wisdom, no insight, no one to guide them in their lives?

How much of that “why” is linked to these findings:

According to a report from the US Census Bureau: In 2023, nearly one in four children in America aged 0‒17 years, totaling about 19 million, were living in a household without their biological, step, or adoptive father, mostly with their mother (85% of cases). In fact, living in a single-parent households with a father absent is the second most common U.S. living arrangement, and the proportion of these households has doubled since 1970 (US Census Bureau, 2023). 

That’s right, I said 19 million with no father in the household.

Let me be clear. As a retired educator, I saw how challenging parenting can be in all circumstances. I worked with many gifted single parents. Yet, I wonder how much better life might be for those 19 million children if there was a reliable, steady father in their lives.

And yes, I know that all fathers aren’t perfect.

Even when fathers are reliable, loyal, and steady in their support of their children and families, they can be challenged.

In the Bible, let’s go back for a moment and think about Abraham, and the father of the Prodigal Son, and Joseph.

To be truthful with you, I struggle with God directing Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Yes, I know God tests us. Thank goodness for the angel’s intervention, but I can’t begin to imagine the emotional scarring for Abraham and Isaac.

And to continue that truthfulness, I struggle with the story of the Prodigal Son. I think my struggle with this scripture is because I know there were many times in my life where I disappointed my father. I let him down.

I know there was never a moment in my life when my father let me down—his heart was too good. Perhaps, my father learned from the good heart of the father of the Prodigal Son.

And speaking of good hearts, what about Joseph?

Engaged to Mary. Out of the blue, he learns that she is expecting a child. The angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream telling him to continue to stand by Mary. What trust Joseph must have had in his heart to comply and remain loyal.

When I think about Abraham, and the father of the Prodigal Son, and Joseph, I want to know who taught them to be reliable, steady, and loyal? Where did they receive this wisdom?

For thirty one years, I worked in the public schools of Virginia. Initially, teaching was at the core of my daily work. Yes, I have lots of stories swirling around my old noggin’.

But, I have never forgotten one day during lunch duty in the cafeteria at Lakeside Elementary School. I sat down with a class of second graders. They were waiting for their teacher to pick them up.

One student, who was new to our school, moved closer to me and said clearly “my daddy is in jail.”

I’ve had students confide and say lots of things to me, but that was the first time for “my daddy is in jail.”

Let’s think back to those 19 million children with no father in the home. How many of those children have a “daddy in jail?”

I think we know the answer.

According to the Sentencing Project, 2.7 million children have a parent serving time in prison or jail on any given day, and over 5.2 million have had an incarcerated parent at some point during their lives.

At this point, you might be thinking, hey Bill, can you lightened up a bit?

And the answer is yes.

Why wasn’t one Father’s Day gift better than the other? It was a tie!

Where do dads go to dance on Father’s Day? Golf clubs.

What’s a groundbreaking Father’s Day gift to give to your dad? A shovel.

That was a pitiful attempt at humor.

Maybe, you were distracted from “My daddy is in jail” for a few seconds.

Despite that brief interruption, that challenge, those 19 million children without a father aren’t going to disappear from our communities, our states, and our country.

Perhaps, you have enjoyed some of the documentaries created by American filmmaker, Ken Burns. In the editing room where Mr. Burns and his team work, there is a sign that states “It’s complicated.”

Marriage, having children, and parenthood are complicated.

It takes quite a commitment to work through the ups and downs of marriage, having children, and parenthood.

In a few days, I’ll turn seventy-three. I often wonder how my wife and I made it through raising our three children.

One constant in my reflections is our teamwork.

Our commitment to see each other through never wavered.

Yes, it was challenging, demanding, and frustrating.

But, we survived because of that teamwork.
Somewhere along the way, without us realizing it, the wisdom, the insight, the teaching, the listening from Proverbs Chapter Four was with us.

And that included those aggravating, heart wrenching moments when a wrong path or an “evildoer” interrupted the flow of life for our children.

I have no idea where that young man is today who confided in me— “my daddy is in jail.”

I hope that young man’s father was able to return to his son.

With the grace of God, I hope that wisdom, insights, listening, and teaching reconnected their lives.
And if in that journey, a wrong path or “evildoers” appeared for the father and son, I hope that the path and the “evildoers” were quickly overpowered and sent on their way by the collective bond found in wisdom, insights, listening, and teaching.

The Steep Canyon Rangers are a successful bluegrass band from Asheville, North Carolina. Through the lyrics of their songs, their songwriters convey some memorable stories.

When I think about those 19 million children, I’m reminded of a song by the Steep Canyon Rangers titled “Hard Luck Kid.”

These words spoke to my old heart:

“He was looking to me with eyes so tired, so young, saying, “Can’t you see I’m worth just as much as anyone?” Give me just one chance, a little grace, and let me in, a little grace for the hard luck kid.”

Out of those 19 million children, you, me, we, us know there are going to be some “hard luck kids” in our paths.

Kids that are “tired,” who just need a “chance,” just a little “grace.”

Proverbs Chapter 4 verse 4 states: “Let your heart hold fast my words.”

Abraham, and the father of the Prodigal Son, and Joseph had hearts that held fast to wisdom, insights, listening, teaching, and grace.

In our daily living when we encounter one of those 19 million children aren’t God and Jesus going to be counting on our hearts to hold fast to wisdom, insights, listening, teaching, and grace?

When that day confronts you, me, we, us will our hearts be ready to respond?

Benediction:
I hope you have a good Father’s Day.
I recall that all my father wanted on Father’s Day was a good nap.
I hope you have a good week too.
And, I hope our hearts will hold fast to the wisdom from Proverbs.
Now go in peace.

Note from author: On Sunday, June 21, 2026, I had the privilege of pinch hitting for the pastor at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Henrico County, Virginia.