Strange Ashes

     

 I just finished Elisabeth Elliot's account of her first year to serve overseas as a Bible translator in Ecuador. In the book,"These Strange Ashes", she tells of her big, gloomy thatched house in San Miguel with its adventure of memories-"the births, deaths, struggles, failures, losses, and common, ordinary missionary life when she accomplished nothing visible or tangible, when she often wasted time and wished she were elsewhere and allowed her thoughts to go off in all directions except where they belonged. The familiar became stuff of dreams, and the stuff of former dreams- the  jungle, Indians, thatched roofs, campfires, a strange unwritten tongue- became familiar." She went to give the Colorado Indians a written language. Near the end of accomplishing six or seven months of work, the man who had helped Elizabeth with her work(the only man able in fact) was murdered and latter all her work stolen from the top of a bus. ALL gone. Why, Lord? He gives and takes away in the most obscure ways doesn't He.

At the end of the book she recounts an apocryphal story (not in the Bible!) about Jesus that conveys the difference between a results-oriented selfishness and a faithfulness born of love.

One day Jesus said to his disciples: “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.” He didn’t give any explanation. So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn’t give any regulations for weight and size! So he put it in his pocket. Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey.

About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands and all the stones turned to bread. He said, “Now it’s time for lunch.” In a few seconds, Peter’s lunch was over. When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up. He said again, “I’d like you to carry a stone for Me.”

This time Peter said, “Aha! Now I get it!” So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger. But he said, “I can’t wait for supper.” Jesus then said: “Follow Me.” He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up.

Around supper time Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, “Now everyone throw your stones into the water.” They did. Then he said, “Follow Me,” and began to walk.

Peter and the others looks at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, “Don’t you remember what I asked you to do? Who were you carrying the stone for?”