The Valley of the Dry Bones
January 28, 2025
By James Emil Morley
Written to the Glory of God and in memory of Miss Mary Gentry of Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee.
The Presbyterian ministry for ordination required in my youth a bachelor's degree and seminary training at the Master's level, M. Div. was required to train us to have the ability to work with the Biblical language of Hebrew (Old Testament), Greek (New Testament) to place the scriptures in proper context before proclaiming them.
Years before King College days or seminary for that matter, a sophomore at Johnson County High School gave the sermon at Clinton Chapel one Sunday morning. It was his first sermon to preach. The text for that day was the prophecy in the book of Ezekial. In the vision, the prophet Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry human bones and prophesies that God will bring them back to life.
It was a daunting experience to stand in that pulpit and look out at all those wise, experienced people of authority!
One of those people was the late Miss Mary Gentry, a retired schoolteacher of many years in Johnson County. I would not have stood there without her efforts in 4-H to teach public speaking in Laurel Bloomery- we called them ""demonstrations."
So I put on my "demonstration" cap and asked the question that God asked Ezekial- "How can these dry bones live?"
I've learned from that experience and reflections of many years that the "dry bones" of Clinton Chapel offered that Sunday were open to a wet behind the ears boy to somehow proclaim God's word for them. They took a risk and that risk became a formative experience of my vocation
Today, an older more experienced Johnson County High School graduate (1977) would say that when we are able to take risks and let others try new things, the awakening may bring newness to our dry bones.
And as the scripture proclaimed: "Breath entered the bones and they came to life."
Regardless of our age when we are willing to nurture others for the sake of their growth and development - we - you and me are bringing breath to dry bones.
Those elders at Clinton did that for me in 1974. They knew so much more than me in every way possible but were willing to sit at my feet- humility, grace and love.
Clinton Chapel is no longer meeting as a congregation. I often wonder how many other lives they touched and brought breath into? It was a cold February morning when I gave that sermon. I remember driving back to Mountain City for the second service, strangely warmed*.
*The phrase strangely warmed was used by John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement.
By James Emil Morley
Written to the Glory of God and in memory of Miss Mary Gentry of Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee.
The Presbyterian ministry for ordination required in my youth a bachelor's degree and seminary training at the Master's level, M. Div. was required to train us to have the ability to work with the Biblical language of Hebrew (Old Testament), Greek (New Testament) to place the scriptures in proper context before proclaiming them.
Years before King College days or seminary for that matter, a sophomore at Johnson County High School gave the sermon at Clinton Chapel one Sunday morning. It was his first sermon to preach. The text for that day was the prophecy in the book of Ezekial. In the vision, the prophet Ezekiel sees a valley full of dry human bones and prophesies that God will bring them back to life.
It was a daunting experience to stand in that pulpit and look out at all those wise, experienced people of authority!
One of those people was the late Miss Mary Gentry, a retired schoolteacher of many years in Johnson County. I would not have stood there without her efforts in 4-H to teach public speaking in Laurel Bloomery- we called them ""demonstrations."
So I put on my "demonstration" cap and asked the question that God asked Ezekial- "How can these dry bones live?"
I've learned from that experience and reflections of many years that the "dry bones" of Clinton Chapel offered that Sunday were open to a wet behind the ears boy to somehow proclaim God's word for them. They took a risk and that risk became a formative experience of my vocation
Today, an older more experienced Johnson County High School graduate (1977) would say that when we are able to take risks and let others try new things, the awakening may bring newness to our dry bones.
And as the scripture proclaimed: "Breath entered the bones and they came to life."
Regardless of our age when we are willing to nurture others for the sake of their growth and development - we - you and me are bringing breath to dry bones.
Those elders at Clinton did that for me in 1974. They knew so much more than me in every way possible but were willing to sit at my feet- humility, grace and love.
Clinton Chapel is no longer meeting as a congregation. I often wonder how many other lives they touched and brought breath into? It was a cold February morning when I gave that sermon. I remember driving back to Mountain City for the second service, strangely warmed*.
*The phrase strangely warmed was used by John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement.
|
|
|