E.G.R. -- Devotional for September 15, from "Good Seeds"

When Jesus came out of the boat He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who made his dwelling among the tombs. No one had been able to subdue him so they had bound him with shackles and chains. But even from these he broke free, and day and night went into the mountains crying out in his misery and gashing himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from a distance he ran to Him, bowed down, and cried out with a loud voice, “O Son of the Most High God, I implore You, do not torment me!” (Mark 5:2-7)

When I was a public school teacher, I enjoyed this inside joke with my colleagues: “Teaching would be the most wonderful job in the world – if it weren’t for the kids!” Then I became a pastor and discovered teachers didn’t have a corner on that joke, for I heard my fellow clerics jesting (we can only hope they were jesting!): “The pastorate would be the ideal profession – if it weren’t for people!” It’s a joke because without kids in the classroom, or people in the pew, teachers and pastors would be out of a job. But what’s really behind the joke is the fact that every classroom, and every church, has an individual or two who is, well, difficult (some might say, “a real handful!”) In the school, they are slow to learn, quick to disrupt. In the church they are slow to smile, quick to complain – and judge. While schools benevolently call them their Special Needs Kids, the church has its own buzzword for dealing with trouble-makers: E.G.R. = Extra Grace Required. Today’s cars have an EGR valve, for gas efficiency. Well, Jesus has grace sufficiency: a heart release valve for hurting, hurtful, even hateful people, whom the rest of us at best tolerate, at worst isolate (or maybe even put in “shackles and chains” -- for the protection of society and the maintenance of order, you understand!) We go out of our way to avoid these problem people, building walls and institutions to create a protective space between our precious humanity and their parasitic insanity! What did Jesus do? He went out of His way the other way, to rub shoulders with the “socially challenged.” He wore as a badge of honor the criticism He received for being a friend to publicans and prostitutes! What will we do? Are we not commissioned by the Son of God, and empowered by the Spirit of God, to do the work of God? The things Jesus did while walking among men are the things He has left us to do, “and greater works shall you do,” He said,“because I go to My Father” (John 14:12-16). So, the next time a shabby stinky ne’er-do-well, or a problem child, or a churlish church member, invades your personal space, don’t turn away, don’t build a wall, and don’t create a new program. Just remember: if it’s a case of E.G.R., a sufficient supply of that extra grace is yours from God for the asking!