1 Moreover, brethren, I
would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the
cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses
in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same
spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and
that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:1-4)
This past
Sunday I lingered on the lawn of my second church in Ozark, Alabama to chat
with the older members. This church is very traditional and old
fashioned. Most of the members exceed the age of 65 years.
The church
itself is almost two hundred years old. It was organized by Scottish people who
immigrated there in the 1830's from Argura, Scotland, and formed this rural
community of Arguta.
As I surveyed the lush, green Alabama surroundings, I
noticed a huge tree near the edge of the churchyard which seemed to be ancient.
When I remarked on the antiquity of the tree, an elderly lady told
me this interesting story about it:
When this lady was a small girl (about 6o years ago)
horse-drawn conveyances were still quite common in the rural South. In those
days, the lady told me, there was an older man who rode his mule-drawn surrey
to
church every Sunday. He would tie the mule to the old tree - which seemed
to the woman to have been of similar appearance even those many years ago.
After several years of driving to church and tying the mule
to the tree, the old man Failed to attend services one Sunday. The old mule,
however, did not forget. He appeared at church at the appointed time and went
to his accustomed place of peace and safety under that massive old tree. After
service, when the men of the church attempted to take hold of the mule and
deliver him home, he would not hear of it. The mule went berserk and would not
leave this familiar place.
Every time the attempt was made to move the mule, he would
wildly resist so that no one dared go near him. The mule insisted, after all
those years of standing under the tree, in remaining this last time at this
shade of peace and comfort. Finally, in desperation, a rifle was brought and
the mule was killed.
I realize this is a sad story to tell. I admire the
character of that old mule. It is
sad because of the mule's attachment to the one thing in his life that never
changed and, in the last moments of his life, he refused to move from it. But
this story is also inspiring because we are reminded that there are anchors in
our lives which never change, which remain steady and unyielding to the demands
of a fickle world.
We, from our youth, have learned of the ancient Rock which
does not move. We have been taught to build our lives upon It and, when the
rains and floods descend, our building thereon will remain fixed and weather
the storms of life. That Rock of Ages followed after the Children of Israel as
they wandered in the wilderness. And that Rock and Fortress abides with us
daily as we are challenged by change and uncertainty. Yet, that Rock remains
steady, strong and unchangeable in the face of the storm.
Perhaps we can learn from the
sad story of the mule - some things are worth the dying rather than to move
from them. The Holy Scriptures, the Love of God, the Love of family and Country
are all things worthy of our immovable devotion. During these uncertain times
of spiritual and social decadence, shall we be blown about by every wind of
doctrine? or shall we stand on that ancient Rock and Fortress which is Christ?
~ by Jerry Ogles
©2001 Logos of St.
Andrews
