I Am Joe's Soul

(Note: Some years ago the Reader's Digest produced a series of articles on the various organs of "Joe's" body, including the heart, lungs, glands, ears, nose, and teeth. Since an article had not appeared on the subject of Joe's soul, J. Ralph Brewer, author of this article, felt the topic was worthy of consideration. Ralph Brewer a close, personal friend of mine, passed away earlier this year. I miss you, Ralph.)


I am Joe's soul.

I am undoubtedly the most mysterious part of Joe's being. I cannot be seen by the X ray, for I am invisible. I cannot be detected by the stethoscope, for I am inaudible. I cannot be probed by the surgeon's scalpel, for I am intangible.

Because of my unusual nature, some people have mistakenly concluded that I am nonexistent. The Bible, however, clearly establishes the fact that I am real and reinforces this position by referring to me more than 500 hundred times. I am mentioned in 41 of the Bible's 66 books, as writers of sacred scripture from Moses to the Apostle John (a period of some 1, 500 years) express profound belief in my existence.

While there are some differences of opinion among theologians as to my exact location and role, it is generally agreed that I along with my counterpart, Joe's spirit, comprise Joe's entire inner nature. As a matter of fact, I am realy what makes Joe tick. I am so closely identified with, and interrelated to, Joe's body that without me he could not see, hear, feel, taste, smell, reason, or remember.

I also have a vital affect upon Joe's emotions. I express love, fear, desire, sorrow, as well as other human responses. To state it concisely, I am Joe's life. I permeate every molecule of his being and control all his functions. With out me Joe would not be alive at all.

Unfortunately, Joe, like millions of people, tends to ignore me and to place excessive emphasis on his body.

The truth is, if Joe's body could be broken down into chemical components and figured at commerical value, he would be worth only a few dollars at the most. His body would contain enough potassium to make one shot for a toy cap pistol; enough iron for an eight-penny nail; enough sulphur to keep fleas off a dog; enough lime to whitewash a chicken coop; enough magnesia to make a single dose for a sour stomach; and enough phosphorous to cover 2,200 matches.

Now please don't misunderstand me. I'm not trying to degrade Joe or minimize his personal worth. Actually, Joe is quite a remarkable being. He has a brain that weighs only 50 ounces, yet contains over 50 billion cells. This amazing computer is capable of receiving, storing, and recalling vast amounts of information for an unbelievable length of time.

Joe has a delicate pump in his body that will beat over 2.5 billion times during his life-span as it circulates blood throughout his system. Furthermore, he has an intricate network of nerves so extensive that they would reach for miles if laid end to end.

So you see, I agree that Joe is "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14), and that he should value and respect his body as a special gift from the all-wise Designer and Creator.

"But listen," Joe, "I'm here also. I too am a gift from God. I'm your soul and I want to be acknowledged and respected. Whether you know it or not, I am your most valuable possession.

Unlike your body, I am eternal.

Your body will die, but I will live forever. The plans you make for me will decided your eternal destiny. Think it over, Joe. Think it over carefully and prayerfully. Decide your values, establish your goals, make your plans, and live your life, but don't ever forget me.

Remember: He who prepares well for this life, but takes no thought for eternity is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.

Parable of the Water Glass

When my daughter Carmen was little she demonstrated extraordinary skill in knocking her water glass over at the table. I know most children go through this phase, but she excelled at it. Dinner time became an adventure and an evening without a spill was celebrated.

She was about 4 or 5 years old ... she didn't do it on purpose ... it wasn't defiance just normal childhood clumsiness.

She was never punished.

During this time I took the family to dinner to an upscale restaurant after church one Sunday evening. As we entered I saw the President of the seminary I was attending. With him was his wife and the pastor, along with his wife, of the largest church in our city. This pastor was an icon in Fresno and known throughout the church world.

Seated in the middle of the "half-moon" table was Dr. Carl F. Henry, one of America's foremost theologians. I recognized him from his pictures and I remembered that he was in town as a guest lecturer at my seminary. For reasons I can't remember I had been unable to attend.

When the President saw me he waved me over to their table to introduce me. I was glad he did. I wanted to say hello to all and meet Dr. Henry. The President said, "Dr. Henry, I would like for you to meet one of our students, Roger Daniel. Roger, this is Dr. Carl F. Henry."

I reached to shake his hand.

I missed his hand.

I nailed his water glass.

It wasn't an ordinary sized water glass. It was a super-duper-jumbo, filled to the top. To my horror-stricken eyes, it looked like a tidal wave rushing out of the glass and sweeping away everything in its path.

Dr. Henry's steak was soaked. His green beans were floating. His suit was ruined. The table was standing in water.

I offered a quick prayer with an urgent appeal for God to open the ground and swallow me. I am not embarrassed or flustered easily. But this was no ordinary occasion and these were no ordinary people. I was humiliated beyond words and turned more shades of red that I wanted to think about.

Dr. Henry is a great scholar.

He is an even greater man.

Sensing my extreme discomfort, he tried to put me at ease. With remarkable kindness and wit he said, "It's okay. I'm a Baptist and we love water." What graciousness from the man whose suit and dinner I ruined in a single failed swoop!

When I turned around to escape the scene of my most embarrassing moment, I caught my daughter's eyes. The look on her face was absolutely priceless. Oh, how she enjoyed watching her father squirm!

I walked to the table, looked at Carmen and said, "Don't you say a word." She didn't. She didn't have to. The flood I left behind said it all.

Well, not quite. There's one more thing to be said:

Be gracious with others when they knock over their water glass. If you sit at the table long enough, someday you will knock yours over.