I visited Kitchener congregation and listened to John Black's very fine Father's Day sermon yesterday. I'm not going to replay it for you. One illustration John used led him to suggest today's good word. (If John is reading this I'm sure he's quite bewildered.)
He quoted an important commandment from the book of Deuteronomy here wherein Moses urges the Israelites to remember the teachings, to teach them to their children, to bind them to their foreheads and post them on their doors and gateposts. John didn't speak about the Jewish practice of placing this important scripture inside a mezuzah and fastening it on the doorpost of their home. That's what Moses' people still do today in response to this commandment!
John said, "I don't think Moses meant to post it on the refrigerator door!" But isn't that where our families post this kind of important artifact?
What do you have posted on your refrigerator door? I know my refrigerator is well-decked with notes and pictures carefully printed or drawn and mailed to me to post on Grandma's fridge. I have wedding invitations and thank yous for baby gifts. I have my real estate agent's card and the phone number for Health Ontario and a likely pizza place. I have several return addresses torn from Christmas card envelopes (I really must write to that cousin.)
In my travels I see soccer schedules and class pictures and report cards. I see recital programs and classified ads. I see coupons and Weekly Announcements and "Keep this Date!" notices. I see people's lives layed out on refrigerator doors. (Owners of shiny new stainless appliances have had to improvise.)
I'm going to think further about this modern cultural phenomenon. You may hear some more about it as I'm working on a sermon about sharing our stories. For now I'll thank John for the inspiration and suggest that you, dear reader, make the connections for yourself.
What important words do you have posted on this very important door in your house? Could I see your priorities there? What lessons do these items teach the children? Any thoughts?
Posted by Marion
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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The top half of ours is covered in the finest crayon art and photos of the people we love. The bottom is home to the ubiquitous magnetic alphabet. I've had several friends over the years with fridge poetry, which I always thought added an active creative element (similar to the letters) in an area usually used as display.
ReplyDeleteMy fridge door collection started with a collage of travel destinations created by my sister several years ago. Now it's surrounded by magnets depicting the destinations I've visited so far (Culzean Castle in England, Rome & Florence, Schloss Neuschwanstein in Germany, etc.) Other magnets: "Mind the Gap", my son's hockey photo on a button from his Bantom year, Graceland U., the Temple, the Auditorium, "Peace" w/lion, lamb and child, and the dove w/Community of Christ that I picked up at Conference this year. There are also pictures: 2 of sunrises over Lake Erie (across the road), my son Matt w/our dog, the Special Events board at St. Thomas Golf & Country Club with Matt's 2005 Ontario Junior Champion noted 2 lines down from Mike Weir's 1992 Ontario Amateur. (A mother is allowed to brag, right?) There's the 6-month Worship Schedule w/dates hi-lited when my husband or I will bring ministry. There's a dentist appointment reminder for my husband, Bob. Lastly, there's an article entitled "A Recipe For Life" that I cut out of a magazine called Life Trends. It lists 22 suggestions. Example: "Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to." I really like the last one ..."No one but YOU is in charge of your happiness". Oh ya, there's also a milk bag opener. After all, it's the fridge!
ReplyDeleteSure enough! I thought I was right in imagining your life displayed on the fridge door.
ReplyDeleteI always liked Gail Leeson's little sheep with the slogan "Ewe is not fat; ewe is fluffy.")
Anybody else care to share before we leave this topic?