Pastor's Pen: Ol' Woes

Wandering the halls of the church building here, I was noticing the summer transformation. Classrooms and meeting rooms are now filled with dishes, sofas, dresses, and shoes. The Presbyterian Women are getting ready for their annual rummage sale. It’s an amazing time in the life of our congregation. Of course, you are invited on August 12 and 13, and all the proceeds go to mission and ministry.

Looking at the boxes and bags of discarded treasure reminded me of a poem that I memorized in elementary school entitled “Ol’ Clothes”. A Junk Man travels the streets calling for things that the villagers don’t want, “Any ol’ clothes to throw away?”

Reflecting on the Junk Man’s call, the author wishes that he had come for some other old things, “Any ol' woes to throw away? Any ol' grudges . . . any ol' hates? Any ol' miseries or sad ol' dates?” When I was a child, I didn’t understand the poem. Now that I am older, I have earned some woes and regrets. I do long for the Junk Man to walk the sidewalk near my home.

Jesus Christ is the one who calls for the pain and sorrow of the past. We can clean out our closets and give him those dark secrets that have caused so much damage. Instead of being burdened by the past, we can take up his yoke.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -- Matthew 11:28-30

Come to this year’s rummage sale. Find a hidden treasure among the rooms. At the same time, don’t be encumbered by a past you cannot change. Find your freedom in Christ. Let him make room for the new.

Grace & Peace,

James Hodsden

OL' CLOTHES by Anonymous

Junk Man passed the house today,

And gave his call in his plaintive way,

"Ol' clothes!

Ol' clothes!

Ol' Clothes!

Any ol' clothes to throw away?

Any ol' dishes . . . any ol' plates,

Any ol' pants or hats or skates,

Any ol' kettles or pots or pans,

Any ol' bottles or ol' tin cans,

Any ol' dresses or any ol' shoes,

Any ol' things that you can't use?

Ol' clothes!

Ol' clothes!

Ol' clothes!"

I searched the house and made a heap

Of things that I didn't need to keep,

Outworn garments and out-read books,

Clothes that had hung on rusty hooks

For the dust to grime and the moths to chew.

And thus the old made way for the new.

I thought, as the old man went his way,

How grand it would be if every day

The Junk Man passed the house to say,

"Ol' woes

Ol' woes

Ol' woes

Any ol' woes to throw away?

Any ol' grudges . . . any ol' hates,

Any ol' miseries or sad ol' dates,

Any ol' sorrows or any ol' spites,

Any ol' fusses or feuds or fights,

Any ol' sighs or any ol' tears,

Any ol' wishing for yesteryears,

Any ol' quarrels or any ol' frets,

Any ol' tears or ol' regrets?

Ol' woes!

Ol' woes!

Ol' woes!"