The Eye of the Needle

      In Oklahoma Sarah and Amanda and I attended First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville. We had several adventures there – gosh, lots that I can think of – and we lived in Oklahoma for such a short time!

      One of the most colorful things I ever heard a pastor say was by the First Presbyterian preacher – in essence it was - you have heard that Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to get into heaven, but Jesus did not say it was impossible for a camel to get through the eye of a needle – it is just that the camel won't look much like a camel once it gets through to the other side!

      The congregation groaned in unison at the image of a camel actually squeezing through the eye of a needle! I still feel the rumble when I remember it now!

      And yes, we know that the eye of a needle was an expression back in Biblical days that meant the narrow opening into the walled city that a camel cannot get through (especially if there are too many of the rich man's packs on his back). And I think there are those who say that that explanation is incorrect, and the eye of the needle meant something else entirely in Biblical days – but still the expression itself is not to be taken literally.

      But the pastor that day in Oklahoma expressed it in as literal a picture as he could – squeezed that real camel through a little tiny hole in the everyday sewing needle with which we are all familiar.

       And we got the message.

      The camel has to shed and sacrifice, bend and morph; the camel has to give up “I” to such an extent that it is unrecognizable as “I” when it is finally worthy to enter heaven.

      That's a lot to ask of us pitiful fat rich mortals.

       Even if one does not believe in the Good Book, or the Word as delivered by whatever prophet – one most likely believes we are capable of being decent human beings. But to give up “I” to do it – to morph into something unrecognizable to do what is right all the time – it is probably easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

        But not impossible!

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