A Very Short Speech

Do you have memories of events that took place even 49 years ago, and you still feel embarrassed about them? I had that happen yesterday.  Yesterday I was in Elba, Alabama and drove by the First Baptist Church of Elba. The memory was as raw and as clear as the night it  happened.

In 1970, at age 17, I was in the front end of a horrible time in my life. After reading the book, In His Steps, I decided, like the main character in the book, to ask before everything I did, “What would Jesus do?” or what is now known as WWJD. On the surface this seems like a good idea. It seems like it would help any Christian to discern the will of God and act on that discernment. My problem at the time, which was a huge problem as problems go, was that I took that suggestion literally. Before EVERYTHING that I did, I asked myself “What would Jesus do?” and based my actions on that answer.

During this time I also interpreted the Bible as literally as possible. I read specific Bible verses and tried to believe and act accordingly. In this case, the verse I read was "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say”. Luke 12:11 In the first place, no one was putting me up against any rulers or authorities; I was asked to speak at a Valentine’s banquet for the youth group at the First Baptist Church of Elba, Alabama. In the second place, it is not logical to think that God would have a problem for me to prepare for that speech.  But I took that verse to mean that I was not to prepare and should trust God in the moment with what to say.  

The night came for the banquet. I dressed up for the occasion and drove the 25 miles from Enterprise to Elba. It was a typical Baptist banquet with a nice meal that was probably roast beef, green beans, mashed potatoes and a roll with some sort of cake for dessert. There were about 25 young people in that room all dressed up and looking forward to a nice talk. The meal was enjoyed by all, the youth director introduced me and I walked to the podium to speak praying all the way for the words to deliver. All eyes and ears were turned to me.  Here is the entire speech.

“On Valentine’s Day we talk about love. There are many types of love that we have for each other. There’s the love of parents for their children, children for their parents, the love of husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. But the greatest love of all is the love that God has for us.” That’s it. That was the speech. Since God gave me nothing else to say, I sat down. I wanted to melt into my chair. 

A couple of years ago, my brother ran into the guy who was the youth director at that time. They discussed the banquet and the speech, and shared a nice belly laugh at my expense. Since that fateful night 49 years ago, I have never failed to prepare for a speech. When I give any sort of speech, I talk from, not an outline, but a manuscript. I deliver it without reading it, but every word is in front of me.

It took about five years and an experience with a puppy and some turnip greens for me to begin to emerge from this black hole I had created for myself. Can you imagine how difficult it was for God to get through to someone who put Him first in all his thoughts, but in a very perverted way? And yet He did. The next time you find yourself in Elba, Alabama, drive by the First Baptist Church, think about that banquet and enjoy a good laugh. You’ll feel better and I will too.