The Fork

Four years ago today the United States of America was attacked
with the worse attack we have known in the boundaries of the United 
States since Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. An attack that was 
meant to break our spirit, which utterly failed. American hearts were 
broken but they did not stop beating and the spirit of America has 
never been stronger. 

Since 09/11, we have been waged in a war against the Taliban and 
many American lives have been lost in Afghanistan. Then there was 
the Tsunami in Asia and now hurricane Katrina in the United States 
of America. Through it all the eternal questions has been asked, the 
questions that are as old as Job and asked by the wisest among us. 

Where is God in all of this?

Who is in control here? Nature? God? Man?

The question I ask of you this morning is not who, but what are we 
going to do about it? 

In the last week Joseph Brant lost his apartment and everything that 
he owned. Joseph has seen scores of dead, traverse pools of toxic 
water, and had a terrible journey from his home in New Orleans to 
escape the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. But on Sunday Joseph 
sang and praised the Lord stating that the ordeal was a test that 
ended up dispelling his life long distrust of white people and setting 
his life on a new course. 

At St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church the mood was a mix of 
frustration, bitterness, and joy. As survivors stood to introduce 
themselves, parishioners clapped and cried, celebrating just being 
alive. 

For through it all, God has been there, Psalm 46: 1-3

God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in 
trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth 
shall change, though the mountains shake in the heart 
of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though 
the mountains tremble with its tumult. 

For even in the worst of times, in disaster that seems as though it 
belongs on the picture screen and not living right before our very 
eyes there is hope…through God.

When we come together in pain; God is with us. 

When we come together in worship or prayer God is with us, for we 
are never alone.

It is easy to feel in despair but even Job did not have that we have, 
the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In the disaster that has affected the United States of America, here 
is where to find strength: 

Find strength not in the food of this world, not in money and 
materialism, not in fabulous vacations and trips, or luxuries. The 
emptiness of this world can only be filled by God. For it is in God 
that we become one, As the soot and ashes rained down, we 
became one color. As we carried each other injured, sick, we became 
one class. As we lit candles of hope and waiting all became one 
generation. As the firefighters, police, EMS risked their lives to save 
and find others, we became one gender. As fell to our knees in prayer, 
we became one faith. As we whispered or shouted words of 
encouragement unto others, we spoke one language. As we waited in 
lines that were a mile long to give blood, we became one family. As 
we cried tears of grief and loss, we became one soul. As we retell with 
pride the sacrifices of heroes, we become one people.

Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight. Jesus 
loves the little children of the world.

It is in this that we can find strength in the turmoil of life and the 
world. 

Who can save a child from a burning house without taking the risk of 
being burned by the flame? Who can listen to a story of loneliness 
and despair without taking the risk of experiencing similar pains in 
their heart and even losing their precious peace of mind? 

Luke 16:15

But Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You are those who 
justify yourselves before men, but God knows your 
hearts; for what is exalted among men is an 
abomination in the sight of God.” 

In the words of Evelyn Husband, widow of astronaut commander 
Rick Husband who was killed in the space shuttle Columbia 
explosion in 2003, “I stood at the door of the New Year and I said, 
‘Give me light that I might see my way safely into the unknown.’ But a 
voice came to me and said, ‘Instead step into the darkness and take 
the hand of God-for it will be to you better than light and safer than 
a known way.’ ” 

VII.) In despair there is hope, there is a reason to keep on keeping on, 
A reason to get up and not give up. Sometimes hope can come to one 
in the most unusual way for God does not always speak to us in ways 
that others may understand. Such as with Marcie who grew up poor 
and without much more than her name and the fork that she always 
held onto wherever she went.

Marcie’s momma didn’t have much to cook with, but how she could
cook and oh the deserts she made were the next thing to heaven. 
Being poor meant meals sometimes were few and far and Marcie ate 
every bite before her, while almost eating her plate in the process. 
Then after supper Marcie waited in anticipation of God answering 
her prayer. Momma walked up behind Marcie saying, Lordy, Lordy, 
what am I going to do with you girl? Then with a hug that only a 
momma can give, momma hugged her Marcie with such love as she 
sat Marcie’s favorite desert down in front of her and watched as her 
little girls eyes lit up like fireworks and a smile wrapped around her 
face. 

Marcie grew up and with tears in her eyes watched her momma take 
her last breath, as she slipped into the arms of God. Years later as a 
grown woman Marcie never forgot her momma’s loving hugs and 
those deserts that Marcie loved so very, very much. Deserts that her 
momma made with hands of love. 

One day God called Marcie home and as her family and love ones 
came to pay their respects, they stood before her casket with tears 
rolling down their faces. Not tears of sadness mind you but tears of 
happiness for in their beloved Marcie’s hands, she grasped the fork, 
as she knew the best was yet to come. 

In this world that we know as home we have a choice, to complain 
about the way it is, contemplate over what has happened, dread what 
is to come, or we can make the choice to do something about it.

We can live in this world and we can leave this world with nothing to 
look forward to. Empty handed without a fork in our hand as we wait, 
or holding the fork in our hands knowing that the best is yet to come. 

Let us not forget what has happened in the United States of America, 
may September 11, 2001 be permanently etched in our history, as 
well as other events that affect our lives as Americans. But instead 
of focusing on the bad, the negative, it is our duty to keep telling the 
story of what has happened in our nation for the generations yet to 
come so that they know the history of this great nation we call the 
United States of America. Let us keep our focus on God, Our Father 
who art in heaven, for in His hands of comfort and love the best is 
yet to come. 

Father,

May we free our minds of hatred, free our minds from worry, live 
simply, dance as though nobody is watching, love like we’ve been 
hurt, and rejoice in the little things, and carry the fork with us 
where ever we go in anticipation of the best that is yet to come 
for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. In 
their pain, in their despair, in their confusion and not knowing 
what the next second may bring may those who have suffered 
the pain that those of us who are on the outside looking in 
cannot begin to know, may they somehow Father, feel our
prayers for them. Our hope that they will not give up, 
that they will keep on keeping on for they are not 
alone in this world with you, their Father at their 
side and our prayers for them. It doesn’t matter 
if they know us or not. What matters is the 
joy in knowing even if we have nothing, 
if we are dirt poor.  We are loved by 
hands of love; your hands Father. 
For in your hands Father, we 
are one.
Amen





09/11/2005 JWM



Return To Sermons