June 2008 Edition

Chunkin Rocks...

Have you ever heard the sound a rock makes when it hits the ground?  Sorta like "thwomp".  I grew up on a gravel road, and kids that grow up on gravel roads learn how to "chunk rocks"  You also learn to appreciate a good chunking rock.  I can't tell you exactly what a good chunking rock looks like, but you know it when you see it.  It fits your hand just right and is just the right weight to chunk it as far as you need to.  We used to chunk rocks all the time.  We chunked rocks at fence post.  We chunked rocks at stray dogs and cats.  Sometimes when no one was looking, we'd chunk rocks at the cows or at Tommy Short's pigs.  And at times of great offense, we would even chunk rocks at each other. (My cousin Crazy still has a scar from one my particularly good shots).  When parents or grandparents would show up unexpectedly, you would hear the sound of rocks falling to the ground.  Rocks falling - it's a very unique sound.

  To one woman the sound of rocks falling is a sound she will never forget.  To her, that "Thwomp" of a rock hitting the ground was the sound of freedom.  It was the sound of forgiveness.  It was a sound that changed her life forever.

  Nobody knows her name, for the Bible doesn't mention it.  It just says that she was a woman who was caught in the act of adultery by the religious leaders of her day.  By their custom, she was to be put to death for the sin she had committed.  Under the law there was no room for mercy.  No room for grace.  No second chances.

Can you see the fear in her eyes as she is dragged from the house and into the street.  Can you see the mob of priest and Pharisees as they drag her to the middle of town, each one stooping to pick up the good chunking rocks they find along the way.  When they come to the center of town, they find Jesus teaching, a crowd gathered around.  Seeing an opportunity to "kill two birds with one stone" they decide to trick him into saying the wrong thing.  Instead, Jesus cuts through all the anger, all the hate, all the unforgivness.  At this point, one by one, the accusers begin to drop their stones.  Thwomp!  One at a time the stones hit the ground.  Surely by now, this woman had her eyes clinched shut with fear, awaiting the first blow that would be the beginning of the end for her.  Instead, she hears "Thwomp"  The sound of rocks falling to the ground, mixed with the sound of feet shuffling away.  When she finally gets the courage to open her eyes, the only one standing before her is Jesus.  Instead of holding rocks, his hands are empty.  Open.  Offering mercy.  Offering forgiveness.  Offering grace.  Offering a love like she had never known and a life that she could only dream about.