Martin Luther King, Jr., in being asked to publish some of his sermons, wrote in the preface to his book, “. . . a sermon is directed toward the listening ear rather than the reading eye. . . I offer these discourses in the hope that a message may come to life for readers of the printed words.”  This is my hope for you, dear reader. - Rev Linda

March 5,2006

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE MALL:
CLIPPING COUPONS

How many of you have ever clipped or saved coupons out of a magazine or a newspaper or flyer?
Now do you clip everything you see or are you discriminating? Do you only clip those that save you, say, a dollar or more, or do you go for the 25 centers as well? How about coupons for things you never would buy otherwise? And then there’s the ones that I call combination coupons. If you buy this product you save so much on the other one.

I used to be a big clipper of coupons when I was younger and was playing supermom. I remember this woman who’d written a book about how much money she saved every week by clipping coupons. I wasn’t that dedicated to it, but I clipped a lot of them.

This whole idea of clipping coupons intrigued me this week as I thought about it. What are the implications here? What’s it all about?

The whole idea of prosperity and abundance can be a bit of a paradox, it seems to me. We don’t want to be into the belief of lack and limitation. But at the same time we do want to be practicing good stewardship with what we do have. Where’s the line? Well, of course, the only person that can answer that question is the person who’s prosperity consciousness it is we’re talking about. I can’t judge where the line is for you, any more than you can for me.

As I was thinking about all the coupons I used to clip, I remembered the little cardfile box I kept them in, with all the dividers separating them into categories—breads, condiments, drinks, snacks. And I couldn’t help thinking there was something of significance in that. It certainly indicated my seriousness in having them organized so I could make use of them.

What are these little pieces of paper, worth so much money toward some specific thing? For that matter, what are those green, and other-colored these days, papers we carry around in our wallets and give so much attention and importance to? They really are a representation of something, a symbol. Maybe of the way we see our own self-worth, if we’re really honest about it.

So this morning as we start the new series for March—A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Mall—we begin with Clipping Coupons. And I think that paradox I mentioned earlier applies here as well.

When we clip a coupon, are we giving ourselves a gift, or are we penny-pinching? And if we can’t be bothered to clip coupons, are we knowing our abundance without them, or are we being wasteful? Like anything else, it’s all in how we think about it. And it also has to do with how much effort we’re willing to expend.

A coupon is a “certificate or ticket entitling the holder to a specified right.” But in order to have an experience of that right, to cash in on it, we have to actually use the coupon. So we have to be able to find it when we go to use it; we have to remember to take it with us to wherever it is we plan to redeem it; we have to make sure we’re purchasing the product that matches the coupon; we have to make sure the coupon hasn’t expired; and then we have to remember to give it to the clerk when we make the purchase. Now if we do all that correctly, we can receive the gift the coupon promises us.

So there are many aspects of this coupon business that have to be worked out properly. Let’s take a look at the first one—we have to be able to find it when we want to use it. Do you know you have a whole cardfile box of “coupons” for exactly what you need when you need it within you, already? You don’t have to collect anything or add anything to yourself. It’s a field of infinite possibilities available to you always. There’s a creative process, a power, within you that will create for you whatever you desire. And unlike the clipped coupon, you can’t lose it. But you can cover it up, hide it from yourself, deny it, or just plain not bother to use it. It’s your own thoughts and feelings. But the trick is to find the thought and feeling that corresponds with what it is we desire to bring into our lives.

So we need to be very organized or clear in our thinking about the thoughts and feelings we’re finding ourselves engaging in when we’re wanting to manifest our desires.

Then we have to remember to take it with us to wherever it is we plan to redeem it. Our “coupon” is the vision of our desires. We keep it ever in the forefront of our minds. We act as if it is so now—because it is. Remember, it’s not the material form or condition or event that’s the important thing, it’s the experience of it, the spiritual essence of what is underneath it, that we’re really looking for. And that’s what we take with us.

If we’re wanting a loving relationship, we carry that experience of love with us everywhere we go. We love everyone we meet. If we’re desiring a new car, we get in touch with the experience we’re really looking for, such as freedom or beauty, and we become conscious of freedom and beauty everywhere we go.

If we want more spiritual awakening, we might express wisdom and peace and see these qualities everywhere around us. And in this way, we make sure we’re purchasing the product that matches the coupon. Because we’ve all had the experience of getting some thing we thought we wanted and then realized it didn’t bring us the joy we thought we’d get from it.

We also have to make sure the coupon hasn’t expired. Is it too late? Being too late could get you into trouble. Consider this story.

There was a priest who was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish, and a leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. But the politician was delayed, so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.
" I got my first impression of the parish,” he began, “from the first confession I heard here. I really thought I’d been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer.

He’d stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his place of business, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs, and gave VD to his sister. I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."

Well, just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. And he immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk. "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," he said. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him in confession."

So you see, it doesn’t pay to be late. Expired coupons. We can get very attached to things being the way they are, long after they’ve outworn their usefulness in our lives. We can get very comfortable in mediocrity, even inferiority. We get attached to our history and think it’s who we are. We drag it around with us like a ball and chain. Throw those expired coupons out! Get rid of ‘em. They’re just cluttering up our consciousness and keeping us from our joy.

And lastly we have to remember to give the coupon to the clerk when we make the purchase. We have to use the gifts we’ve been given. So often when I talk to people about their gifts, their talents, they say, “I don’t have any talents.” They think they can’t paint or sing or do crafty things, and so they don’t have any gifts.

But every single one of you has a gift that’s so unique to you, you’re the only one that has it the way you have it, and you’re the only one that can give it to the world the way you can give it. We have to use what we’ve been given. If you’re not sure what your gift is, start where you are and declare often that you’re open to having that gift revealed to you. And not only the gift, but how you’re to use it. Your gift may be an experience of peace that people feel everywhere you go. Maybe it’s the unconditional love you give to your family and friends. Maybe it’s a listening ear to those who have a need to talk. Maybe its infinite patience in your work. Whatever it is, you have it. Take my word for it.

Never think your gift isn’t worth much. I close with this true story.

Near the turn of the century, a sobbing, threadbare little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was "too crowded."

" I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of all the children who have no place to go to Sunday school.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and, scribbled in childish handwriting, a note which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School." For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there. . .

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered to sell them a parcel of land worth many thousands of dollars. When told that they couldn’t pay that much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000, a huge sum for that time, the early 1900s. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.
When you’re in Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds.”

If Spirit can do this with 57 cents, what can It do with your gift?

In your program this week, you have a coupon that you can use to help open the gift you are, either by taking a class or having a practitioner session. I hope you’ll take advantage of this coupon you can use for opening to a greater expression of the magnificent gift you are.

Let’s pray...