A MENTAL JOURNEY
ISAIAH 55:6-9 REV. ARMEN HANJIAN MAY 21, 2017
Chilmark Community Church
(read slowly)
I invite you to take a mental journey. I will tell you some of my life experience; I invite you to connect with your own life experience. It is easier if you journey with your eyes closed.
I was born in N.J – not in Syria or India or Vietnam. (take 10 seconds picturing, reviewing your birthplace)
My grandparents never got to spoil me; they were all killed in the genocide in Turkey. (10 seconds recalling your grandparents)
My parents had three sons – I was the youngest, so I didn’t miss being spoiled. (10 -recalling your parents.)
My parents were committed to each other and to our family all their days. (10)
From childhood, I have been nurtured (10),
supported (10),
protected (10),
respected (10),
and limited for my benefit by family, friends, and by faith communities. (10)
I had a few dull teachers, but countless wise and engaging ones. (10)
Jesus has more and more been the guiding person of my life. (10)
I have lived in a peaceful environment. (10) Life was not all sunshine and roses. My father was shot and killed in his rug store. I had a curvature of the spine and operations to address it. (15)
I never grew tall, but I did have expressive eyes. (10)
If I described my life in terms of dollars, I would have to admit I was given $100,000 for my living and I have repaid, say (an estimating face) $116. (10)
In other words, I have been and am now and will always be for the rest of my life in debt. With such a huge debt, I am surprised I am not in prison. (10)
As I see it, God has given me an undeserved pardon – truly a gift of grace. And out of gratitude I will spend the rest of my days paying forward to those who have not been so richly blessed as have I. (15)