Poor Charlie! He lived right across from the playground where youth and young men showed up every late afternoon to play basketball. Charlie’s proximity to the playground allowed him to work on his ball-handling and shooting skills when the court was empty. It paid off, as evident by the fact that he was a multi-year starter at one of the top high schools in the city. So, since his proximity paid off when it came to the roundball sport, you are probably wondering why I said, “Poor Charlie” at the onset of this meditation. Well, let me so some explaining. There is another perspective regarding Charlie’s proximity. In addition to living across the street from the playground and its popular concrete basketball court where talented athletes gathered regularly, there was only one house between Charlie’s house and one of the biggest churches in town during the late 1960’s. In spite of Charlie’s proximity, he never attended church, not Sunday School, VBS, Morning Worship, Evening Worship, the occasional Afternoon Services, and not one mid-week service, revival, or state-wide youth convention. Poor Charlie rarely missed a shot in basketball, but he certainly missed a lot by not taking advantage of his proximity to the church. Poor Charlie! Oh, so close, yet so far away!
Let’s turn the page, so to speak, and stop focusing on Charlie’s proximity and your proximity. Where are you right now this Sunday morning? Well, wherever you are, I know there is a church near you. Are you going to take advantage of your proximity? I hope you do!
And guess what? When you take advantage of your proximity you will find yourself nearer to God. Do you remember my four-word, short sermon? Well, just in case you don’t, I will preach it again right now. “GO TO CHURCH!” Love you! Be blessed!
“Enter with the password: ‘Thank you!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.” (Psalm 100:4-5 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
Poor Charlie. He didn’t realize that the best practice he could ever receive was inside the church.
Yes, right! Inside instead of outside. He would have gained something that would last for a lifetime, a relationship with Christ. Be blessed, Dr. King!