Fabulous story from The Sacred Sandwich (you should click the link for the full text of this brief, well-told story) —
The White Flag Man was a fellow by the name of Peter “Petey” Hopkins who every morning at sunrise would go out and hoist up a white flag on a flagpole in his front yard and then take it down at sunset. He started doing it around fifty years ago, not long after his wife and three-year old daughter died in a tragic car accident, and as far as anyone could tell, he never missed a day. At least not until last week. …
But Petey Hopkins had made a point every morning when he awoke that he would surrender himself to Jesus Christ. …
Perhaps it was a cheesy ritual in an outward sense, but for Petey the act of running up a white flag was a gesture that created the perfect impetus for the day. It fixed Jesus in his mind as soon as he left his bed and became the catalyst for his actions and thoughts throughout each waking moment. …
Among the many heartwarming accounts: On the hottest days of the year, Petey was often seen toting jugs of cool spring water to the parched farmers working in the fields; he personally brought a box of groceries to Marge Whittle every week for three months until she found another job; he saved the Hobson boy from drowning in McGonigle’s pond and in the process almost drowned himself; he volunteered his time and tools to help Harvey Cline rebuild his mule barn after a fire; he prayed many times with Jim and Pam Snelling when Pam got terminal cancer and would often drive her to chemotherapy when Jim was at work; and more significantly, he talked about Jesus Christ to Pat Toomey, Ray Bob Smith, Bonnie Sharp, Lori Henderson, Jack Lutcher, Cliff and Janelle McElwee, Thelma Butterworth, Wilson Pratt… well, you get the picture.
This reminds me of a similar story told by Ray Vander Laan.
During Roman times, a Jewish rabbi approached a Roman army camp. As he came near, a soldier step in front of him and barked, “Who are you? Why are you here?”
The rabbi responded, “How much do they pay you to ask such questions?”
The soldier, startled by unconventional response, answered, “One denarius a day.”
The rabbi said, “I’ll pay you twice that if you’ll stand outside my house and ask me those questions every time I leave or enter!”
Questions: Does any one here have a daily ritual to remind you to surrender to Jesus? If so, what has been the impact on your life? Can you relate similar stories about others you know?
The story about Peter Hopkins is outstanding! Thank you for posting it.
Yes, and many.
When someone asks me how are you, my usual reply is "Between better and best." I began saying this years ago while I was a route salesman. I wanted something upbeat to say to my customers without lying through my teeth much of the time. I thought of it as a neutral expression – until one day something occurred to me.
I realized that when the Lord saved me, He made me better; I will not be best until He gives me immortality with Him. Until then, I am between better and best. Every time I say it, it reminds me of where I have come from and where I am going – in a way that helps me to live constantly in His presence.
Jay, I say a form of the Step 3 prayer. Something like —
God, help me to surrender to you today. Help me to stay out of self so that I can be of maximum service to you. I want to be a part of what you are doing here on Earth. Amen.
Jay,
Good post. I have two scenarios that have become rituals.
I begin my day with a conversational prayer reflecting on Titus 2:11-14, drug & porn addictions the Lord has taken, and a petition to keep me from becoming enslaved to them again. The second ritual occurs sometime daily and is more reactive than proactive. Every day I give a 20 minute apologetic to one of my agnostic/atheist acquaintances who want me to leave this foolishness called Christianity and return to them.
I lost my 17 year old son in 2001; he took his own life. There are still times when the memory of when I received the call makes me feel, for a split second, that I'm about to go totally out of my mind; and that split second feels like it will last forever.
Oh, I have my morning routine, my devotions; I need them, and always will. But the truth is when I think of losing my son it doesn't make any sense; it makes the idea of a loving God difficult to defend. He was a beautiful, sweet boy, who loved his poetry and music. The ONLY thing that brings any sense at all into my day is being THANKFUL; for my other children, my grand children, for my wife, and for the few years that my son brought beauty upon this earth. And when I say "Thank You", as I have to do, as I want to do, every day, through out the day, I can see God, I can see Christ, again.
I lost my 17 year old son in 2001; he took his own life. There are still times when the memory of when I received the call makes me feel, for a split second, that I'm about to go totally out of my mind; and that split second feels like it will last forever.
Oh, I have my morning routine, my devotions; I need them, and always will. But the truth is when I think of losing my son it doesn't make any sense; it makes the idea of a loving God difficult to defend. He was a beautiful, sweet boy, who loved his poetry and music. The ONLY thing that brings any sense at all into my day is being THANKFUL; for my other children, my grand children, for my wife, and for the few years that my son brought beauty upon this earth. And when I say "Thank You", as I have to do, as I want to do, every day, through out the day, I can see God, I can see Christ, again.
John,
How I agree and sympathize with and for you!
You'll never have dates escape you that are connected to him. Others, yes, but not him.
Try your best to think of the happy times and the assurance that you will see him again and what a reunion that will be.
Now, he will show you around heaven instead of you showing him. You can live with that.
Thank you, Alabama John,
THANKFULNESS is the only surrender I know. When I try to come up with some intelligent argument for the love of God I am so lacking. But when I see my other children, and the love they have for their children, when I see the love of any parent and child, then I SEE love…I SEE Christ…I whisper "thank you"… that is my surrender.
And you seeing all that so vividly may just be what God wanted.
You seeing and being aware and thankful for so much that most miss causes you and your family to be so very blessed.
Keep in mind 'What a meeting in the air" is coming.