Promises Kept
There are times, seasons perhaps, in my life when I reflect on the things that are important and of value. The death of a friend or family member causes me to ponder the meaning and purpose of life and the possibility of life after death. A change in circumstances at work makes me consider priorities and ideals in my career. Four million posts on my Facebook feed makes me hope I was not nearly as obnoxious when Indiana University went undefeated in basketball. Someone not following through and keeping their word makes me realize the value of promises kept.
The time leading up to Easter or the Passover has always been one of those times. Growing up in a Protestant Christian family, there were so many things about the season that were difficult to understand. Many words or phrases were foreign: lent, Mardi Gras, Tenebrae, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, penance. Some of the rituals seemed veiled in mystery or secrecy.
My curiosity caused me to study – to find out all that I could about the traditions and rituals, about the reasons behind the practices and the lessons that were to be learned. My curiosity also nudged me to think about the religious things that I was taught. I examined their claims; I carefully weighed their validity. Over time, this season of the year has prompted me to think about the spiritual and moral concepts that are of value.
Celebrating Traditions
For the next few weeks, let’s think together about some of the lessons that can be learned from the celebration of the Passover, from the days that lead up to Easter. We will talk about concepts like sacrifice and hope. At the heart of the story of the Passover, today’s lesson is the truth that God keeps his promises.
Think for a moment. What was the last promise you made to someone? Yes, I will take out the trash after this TV show is over. I will have that report on your desk by noon tomorrow. I will love, honor and cherish you as long as we both shall live.
If you are like most, you make dozens of promises – commitments – to people each day. While it is impossible to follow through on every promise that is made in a lifetime, we still value the ability to keep promises. We are impressed with those who keep their word. We hold in high esteem the person whose word can be trusted.
We also become keenly aware of when a promise is not kept. Whether the promise of a father to come watch a child’s Little League game, or the commitment of a business partner to secure the deal, a broken promise leaves us a little shaken, a little skeptical, a little infuriated, a little indignant.
Over time, we hear so many words proven false or skewed that it is difficult to put much trust or faith in the validity of any statement. No new taxes. I have never used performance enhancing drugs. I did not have sex with that woman. We understand what you are going through. We are doing all we can to help. Are the words so hollow that we don’t even listen to them at all anymore?
We are also skeptical of what we hear or read in the news. Twitter, the internet app which allows people to share words and phrases about the events in their lives, also owns an internet service called Vine, which allows people to share six second video clips of their world. The politically charged comedy series, The Daily Show, posted a montage of news clips a few days ago called “50 Fox News Lies in 6 Seconds.” While the accuracy of some of the “lies” could be challenged, the initial posting ironically only contained 49 clips.
Promises Kept Faithfully
Perhaps it is because I had four children, but I cannot contemplate keeping promises without thinking of one of the delightful books by the whimsical Dr. Seuss. Voted one of the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” by the National Education Association, Horton Hatches the Egg teaches values of friendship, loyalty and keeping one’s word.
The book tells the story of Horton, a kind elephant, who agrees to sit on an egg of Mayzie, an irresponsible bird, while she takes a short break. Her break turns into a permanent vacation to Palm Beach. You are probably grinning with me as you picture the amazing sight of an elephant sitting on a nest atop a tree. Horton endures the heat, rain and cold, ridicule by his friends, captured by hunters, goes through a long sea voyage, and is finally placed in a traveling circus. No matter what the hardship, Horton refuses to leave the nest repeating the phrase, “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred per cent.”
The lesson of Horton, and one of the lessons of the Passover, is that promises can and should be honored. No matter the struggle, regardless of consequence, virtue and integrity are upheld when a man’s word is kept.
Norman Vincent Peale wrote, “Promises are like crying babies in a theater … they should be carried out at once.”
Faithfully. 100 Percent.
Post first published on March 5, 2015 in News-Tribune, Jeffersonville, IN.
