Sermon Central
-
Big Ed
Contributed by Christopher Lanham on Jul 19, 2010 (message contributor)
BIG ED
When I was in high school, there was this girl -- let's call her "Edith". Everyone called her Big "Ed" because she was on the heavy side. She was the youngest of four sisters, the three older ones being very attractive. Edith accepted the nickname, showed no real signs of being injured by it and went through her sophomore and junior years quietly. She didn't get invited to parties -- she was a little socially awkward, after all. No one asked her to attend homecoming or prom. She was simply written off as one of those background people who are pleasant most of the time, but peculiar -- could be prickly. She was considered by most as unattractive, and athletically proved to be ungraceful as well -- which didn't help. Her sisters were all 1st team athletes.
As you might guess, Edith lived a very lonely existence. Although loved by her family, that's not always a comfort when you are ridiculed by everybody else -- especially those you look up to as popular or cool. In just about every social circle Edith was on the outside looking in.
She disappeared the summer between her junior and senior years. In a town as small as ours was it is hard to remain unseen all summer long -- even if you are a social misfit in frumpy clothes. But Edith was a ghost throughout the summer and where she had gone to was something of a mystery.
The first day of school rolled around and suddenly a buzz began to hum in the hallways of Elkins High School -- there was a new hot girl in school. Except, this wasn't a new girl -- it was Edith and no one was going to call her "Big Ed" anymore. It was never clear where Edith went, but what is clear is that wherever it was, she got into shape. She blossomed into this drop-dead, gorgeous girl that was now driving all the young men crazy. Suddenly, everybody who was somebody wanted a piece of Edith.
To her credit, Edith never accepted one invitation to a dance or a date. She kept her head with the newfound popularity. She once said in a conversation that I was privy to that none of these people could see who she was when she was overweight and what they want now is not who she is, but what they think she can do for them. Guys wanted her for the bragging rights of dating and sleeping with such an attractive young woman, the girls wanted her for a hunk-magnet. Since that was the case, they would get none of her, just as they gave none of themselves to her when she was less than desirable.
I tell this story this morning for two reasons; first, because I have always liked the story. Edith was a friend of mine, a teammate on the tennis team -- and I have always thought it was great the way she refused to allow herself to be used. She had a good sense of self.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, ... PRO
Contributed by Evie Megginson on Feb 2, 2005
The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and various others. But in all of paganism’s galaxy of gods, there never was one called “god of hope.” That is ...read more
-
A Prayer Before The U.s. Senate. "Lord Jesus, ...
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Mar 28, 2005
A prayer before the U.S. Senate. “Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be ...read more
-
The Sign Next To The Expressionless Face Said: ... PRO
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 30, 2004
The sign next to the expressionless face said: “The Motionless Man: Make Him Laugh. Win $100.” So several people gave it all they had. For hours they pulled their faces into strange contortions, told jokes, made fun of him, did stunts — but nothing worked. He was totally unmoved and his face ...read more
-
A Great Deal Of Our Anxiety To Make Excuses ... PRO
Contributed by Jim Kane on Mar 12, 2005
"A great deal of our anxiety to make excuses comes from not really believing in the forgiveness of sins, from thinking that God will not take us to Himself again unless He is satisfied that some sort of case can be made out in our favor. But that would not be forgiveness at all. Real forgiveness ...read more
-
The Graduation Gift PRO
Contributed by Joel Vicente on Oct 12, 2002
THE GRADUATION GIFT A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealers showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Loyalty: Loyalty Rewards Series
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 29, 2012
Loyalty is a virtue. Loyalty seeks to honour God, it values the relationship and God rewards our faithfulness. God is loyal.
-
Relationships #2 - 10 Keys To Building Healthy Relationships Series
Contributed by Chris Jordan on Jul 13, 2007
If the two most important commandments are to love God and love people, then it is essential that we learn to build healthy relationships with one another. Here are some keys to do that.
-
Testing Loyalty Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on May 30, 2013
David put his covenant friendship with Jonathan to the test. He does so by putting his life in Jonathan's hand. It is the occasion for a confirmation of the covenant between them & also of a very sad parting.
-
David Establishes Relationships Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 29, 2013
God's hand was on David. The Lord was going to make him into on of the greatest kings in human history, but in order to do that God had to mold & sharpen him. God needed to do His work in order to make His man. The way God breaks & makes His great servant
-
Don’t Play Favourites Series
Contributed by Allan Quak on Oct 15, 2011
God doesn’t show favourites and neither should we
