I heard of you by the
listening to of the ear, however now my eye sees you; Job 42:5
In case you can maintain your
head when all about you
are dropping theirs and blaming it on you;
In case you can belief your self when all males doubt you,
however make allowance for his or her doubting too:
In case you can wait and never be drained by ready,
or, being lied about, do not deal in lies,
Or being hated do not give strategy to hating,
and but do not look too good, nor discuss too sensible;
With these phrases, British Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling
begins his traditional poem “If,” written in 1895 and first revealed in 1910. The poem is within the type of paternal recommendation to the
poet’s son, John. Joni Mitchell put the poem to music in her 2007 album Shine. I first got here throughout “If” throughout
an annual Christmas Eve poetry studying at a member’s residence from the primary church
I served in Belleville.
Once I shared how touched I used to be by the poem with my boss and
mentor on the time, the Rev. Dr. Fred Cornell, he was delighted. “If” was a
favourite poem of his mom’s, who framed and hung it in his bed room, greeting
him every morning rising up. When our son Paul was born, Peter and I made a decision we
wished “If” to greet him every morning and to proceed the custom we discovered
from the person who officiated at our wedding ceremony and for whom we had an ideal respect
and admiration.
Dr. Cornell was a person, not not like Job, who was acquainted
with grief after the deaths of his son and his spouse, who endured in
integrity, and who was an agent for change. Fred walked for justice alongside
many Presbyterian ministers within the 1965 Voting Rights March in Selma, Ala. Fred’s
progressive view of ladies in ministry and his advocacy for me strengthened our
bond. One of many causes Peter and I selected the title “Paul” for our son was to
honor the reminiscence of Fred and Audrey’s son, Paul Cornell, who died tragically of
a mind aneurism the summer season following his commencement from legislation faculty simply after
he handed the Illinois Bar. Befittingly, our son Paul would determine to pursue a
profession in legislation.
There’s a energy inside the character of Job that
resonates with Kipling’s poem “If.” Job is resolute and chronic with a voice
that cries out, even when others search guilty him. The voices of others can not
mute his cry to be acknowledged by his creator within the midst of struggling. Job
is rewarded for his persistence with an “eye that sees God.”
Job refuses to simply accept the established order of those that presume to
communicate on behalf of God. Within the midst of his battle, Job holds quick to God and
clings to his dignity as a human being. Due to Job’s persistence, God
enters a dialogue with Job which affirms who God is and reminds Job of his
humanity. Job is reworked within the presence of God. With marvel, awe and
gratitude. Job proclaims I had heard of you by the listening to of the ear,
however now my eye sees you.
Up to now, Job knew God from the directions of others,
from his household and from his religion group. Now Job meets God in his personal
life, within the thick of the storm that’s his life. Job speaks of a firsthand
expertise and private assembly with God and a type of seeing that surpasses
recognized speech about God. Nose to nose together with his loving Creator, Job yields
himself and finds consolation within the mud and ashes of his humanity. Then, Job will get
up from his ash heap of loss and sorrow to get on together with his life.
Job’s deepened expertise of God summons him to new methods of
seeing, leads him exterior of himself, and creates in him a brand new being inside his
group: a group that now not judges Job or tells him to be quiet, a
group that eats bread with Job, and a group that reveals him sympathy and
consolation and takes an providing on his behalf.
Might God grant every of us the resilience and interior energy
of Job. Might we belief ourselves when others doubt us, select love when others
hate us, and, but, neither “look too good nor discuss too sensible.” Might we stroll with
reverence for all times, imaginative and prescient for change, and gratitude for the grace and mercy we
have obtained by the hand of God.
The Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer is pastor and head of
employees at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
