Dear Friends,

I came across the following story and its truth might be applied to the URC’s Vision4life programme. Read on and I’ll explain more.

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23.
Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation – “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” – the crowd would listen attentively.
And then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor’s incredible ability to bring the verses to life.
But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up. “Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?” The actor was quite taken aback by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand at the front of the stage to recite the Psalm, thinking that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his talent.
With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping.
The audience had been so moved by the young man’s recitation that every eye was full of tears. Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, “I don’t understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience – but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?”
The young man quietly replied “Well sir, you know the Psalm . . . . . I know the Shepherd.”
Author unknown.
The first year of the Vision4life program focussed on the Bible. It is right for all of us to study and know more of the stories of God’s Son and God’s peoples recorded for our reading today but on by itself there is no real depth of understanding and Spiritual development. As in the story above we need a living relationship with God and the second year of Vision4life is focussed on maintaining and building that relationship through prayer. Only when we have a prayerful life will the Bible and all life have meaning. Summer allows a time for many to take a break from the normal routines but I hope not from Prayer and worship. Once prayer is built into our daily lives we will be ready for the year of evangelism which begins this coming advent. The Bible, Prayer and Evangelism together will then give us all a vision4life, life in all its fullness.

Yours in Christ
Chris