What an ending! By this I don’t mean The Noticer ends with a twist no one saw coming. Instead, the townspeople find Jones’ well-worn suitcase in the middle of the parking lot. But where is Jones?
His suitcase went everywhere Jones went. So what happened to Jones?
In retrospect, chapter 9 foreshadowed the coming end. Jones took Andy back to the place where they first met. And there, under the same pier, they meet Jason, weeping. Déjà vu. Only this time, Andy knows what Jones means when he says to Jason, “Move into the light.” Once again, Jones takes three books out of his suitcase, but this time, he offers them to Jason.
As the townsfolk gathered at Café Béignet, they shared story after story. We, along with the residents of Orange Beach, learn that Jones helped almost everyone living there. His suitcase was light. It felt empty, but the townsfolk discovered the suitcase was full of seed packets.
And they find a letter from Jones in the suitcase.
We learn more of the mystery and intrigue about this man Jones through stories of Jones’ encounters. Jones suddenly appears on a boat at sea, next to the bed of a dying man and in the ambulance of an injured teenager. Jones appears wherever and whenever he is needed, right on time.
For me, the metaphors developed by the book’s author, Andy Andrews, jump off the page. Of course, it’s a matter of perspective, isn’t it?
I read scripture as poetry. Divinely inspired stories about real people. I’m not like any of them, yet I resemble all of them. For me, even though the bible contains a multitude of genres, the stories share a common bond held together by metaphors, offered by God intended to give us perspective.
Jesus uses storytelling to teach us and empower us to gain perspective. His stories overflowed with metaphors and other literary devices to enrich our lives.
Some will look and look, but not see because their minds are dull, and they have stopped up their ears and have closed their eyes. Otherwise, their eyes would see, their ears would hear, their minds would understand, and they would turn to Me
Matthew 13:14-15
One expression Jesus uses a lot goes something like, “Those who have ears should listen.” Jesus didn’t say “Those who can hear” or any variation that excludes any of us. We all should listen, but many don’t.
We call the stories Jesus told, regardless of the complexity of the plot, parables, whenever they’re stuffed full of meaning. We get this notion from conversations between Jesus and His disciples.
According to Matthew, Jesus left these instructions for followers: Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
While this sounds like a straightforward plan, Jesus tells us earlier that not everyone who has ears listens to Him. So they’re even less likely to listen to you and me.
As an illustration, Jesus told a story about a farmer scattering seeds. Not all the seeds fell on soil that allowed them to take hold.
The three synoptic gospels tell this story. This parable’s uniqueness includes behind-the-scenes insight into parables. Jesus explains why parables and interprets the parable He told to the listening crowds. A crowd included some who listened and got it but a lot who listened but only heard a story about scattering seeds.
Jones explains the purpose of the seed packets in the letter he left for the townspeople. The seeds are symbolic. They represent words, but their power comes later as the seeds sprout new perspectives.
In an interview with ChurchSource, Andy Andrews said, about his book The Noticer, “The book is based on Biblical principles but doesn’t overtly talk about Jesus. I’ve found this extremely effective to reach the lost with the Gospel.”
Andrews was scattering seeds and sharing what’s worked for him. This is our shared mission as Christians.
We can inspire others by sharing our stories. Our stories are the seeds we’re given to plant. Sometimes they find fertile soil and our story resonates with one or more of our listeners. Other times, they’re just stories.
You can join us each Sunday in person or online by clicking the button on our website’s homepage –Click here to watch. This button takes you to our YouTube channel. You can find more information about us on our website at FlintAsburyChurch.org.
A reminder that we publish this newsletter that we call the Circuit Rider each week. You can request this publication by email. Send a request to FlintAsburyUMC@gmail.com or let us know when you send a message through our website. We post an archive of past editions on our website under the tab, Connect – choose Newsletters.
Pastor Tommy
Parts of our series are inspired by Andy Andrews. The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective. Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2011.
“The Noticer – Sometimes, All A Person Needs Is A Little Perspective.” © ChurchSource, 2024. Retrieved from: link