The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-08-04
This Wa, She
Lesson for August s, 1861

The last judgment is Gods:
but the first judgment is the
neighbors'. The very first is the
family's, to be sure: but Dorcas'
family is not mentioned. DorcaS
is one character whom we never
see alive; all we know Of her is
what the neighbors thought at
the time she died. Everything
was ready for the funeral, till
some one thought Of sending for
Simon Peter. Perhaps they ex-
pected the miracle. perhaps not.
At any rate, Simon prayed
and there was no funeral after
all.
Remembered-For What?
A funeral is a great place for
memories. Everyone comes early
and they sit there thinking about
their memories Of the one who
has died. And after the funeral
they talk with one another about
the one they all remember. But
if people are remembered, it is
always because Of something in
particular. One man is remem-
bered for his funny stories, an
other for his bad temper. an
other for his sharpness in bust
ness. another because he was the
governor. Good. bad or indiffer-
ent, we shall all be remembered
for something or other. This Dor
cas- was remembered for clothes
not the clothes she wore but
those she had made for others.
In those days a widow had no
way Of earning an income, and
life insurance was unheard-of. So
Dorcas had with her own hands
made many a garment for poor
widows-and that was what the
women brought to the funeral.
Suppose Dorcas had been a
dreamer and an intender? Sup
pose she had thought that max
ing clothing for poor neighbors
was somehow beneath her dig
nifty? Suppose she had dreamed
of some big thing, like changing
the world so there would never
be any poor people anywhere?
Good intentions ~ dead good in
tentions - may be remembered
at the funeral. but they are not
cherished. Better to be remem-
bered for one small handkerchief
actually made, than for a prin-
cess wardrobe intended but I'M
made.
They Wanted Her Back
Most people at a funeral would
tell you they wish they had her
or him-back again. But all the
stories about dead" people sit
ting up in their caskets also tell
of panic in the audience. Most
people who have acquired the
title "Late"-like 1.-THE late John
Smith"-if they came back three
months after their funeral, would
find themselves in an embar-
RAISING position. Somebody else
would have the old job, maybe
somebody else would be living in
the old house worst Of all,
after the many nice things that
were said at the funeral, it's too
bad to spoil it all by going back,
in real life not quite the saint
you were said to be by the
preacher.
People really want you back
only if you are truly indispen-
sable. Dorcas was that rare kind
of person. Her needle and thread.
her practical skill, all gone now.
There was no one to take her
place. People wanted her back,
just as she was. Even God
wanted her back, or Peters
prayer would have been in vain
How much Of a hole would you
leave if you died today?
Seven-Day Religion
We do not know what creed
Dorcas professed. Would she
have been a Roman Catholic, a
Methodist. a Presbyterian? We
are not told. How long every day
did she sit reading the Bible?
Was she high church or low
church? What did she do with
her Sabbath days? We do not
know-nothing was said about
these items when Peter came Ia
that upper room. The things the
women showed him we're things
that Dorcas made on weekdays,
no doubt. It was what she did
on weekdays that made her
memorable and beloved. Now We
do know one thing about her mind
and heart. She is called simply
a disciple" She was a follower
Of the Lord Jesus. she believed
in him above all. But having said
this important thing about Dor
cas-. Luke writing Acts at once
says, she was full of good works
and charity. Maybe she was full
of enthusiaSm-of kind words
of true doctrine of good looks
of education, or what not. That
was not the point. That was not
the way she was remembered
She was full Of good works.
Based on outlines copyrighted
by the Division Of Christian Edu-
! cation, National Council Of the
Churches Of Christ In the U. S. A.
Released by Community Press
Service.)