Erl Purnell Sermon

b29Pentecost Last ~ November 26, 2006 ~ A sermon preached by The Rev’d Erl G. Purnell at Old St. Andrew’s Church, Bloomfield, CT

Daniel 7.9-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1.1-8; John 18.33-37

I love surprises. Like my 60^th birthday surprise last July when I flew a bi-plane in Port Townsend, Washington. A few weeks ago we watched a movie that had the unappetizing title V for Vendetta. Surprise! The theme of the movie was excellent. In the first week of our annual giving campaign for 2007, surprise, we’re doing extremely well. We have ten new pledges and most parishioners have increased their pledge so that our average is approaching the diocesan average of $2,000. But I’m actually not surprised about this.

But back to surpises. Last week, when I received a note from my good and old friend Tony McCague in Philadelphia, I was not surprised but shocked that he wanted me to read a piece by George Carlin. George Carlin, you may recall, is the norotiously foul-mouthed comedian who can only be seen on HBO or in stand-up clubs. Now, I’m not totally against George Carlin because, even though his language is gross, he is often right on point with a certain truth behind what he says. Usually I delete emails I don’t want to read but Tony provided the opening I needed. He said, “This is attributed to George Carlin, whose wife recently died. Isn’t it amazing that Carlin—the gross and mouthy comedian of the 70’s and 80’s—could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.”

As I hope you know, I write my own sermons every week. I try hard to reach into the gospels or other scripture and relate them to our lives. This week, however, I simply want to read George Carlin’s thoughtful and touching piece. Something well worth hearing. Something worth thinking about. A special surprise. Carlin writes:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, but not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We’ve conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember: Spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember: Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember: Give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember: Say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment, for some day that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Amen.