You Stink, Ya Ugly Moose! by Grant MacDonald

    A few years ago, Larry Carrara’s farm in Shrewsbury, Vermont made the news in a big way. Betcha can’t remember why! Well, let me narrow the possibilities for you. He wasn’t found growing pot and his cows weren’t mad! His farm wasn’t repossessed, nor where his crops destroyed by fire, famine, flood or bug. Any ideas yet? Well, perhaps you might recall the tale of a 700 pound Romeo in the guise of a lovesick moose? Seems he got a bit confused and became enamoured with one of the cows on Larry’s farm!

    Days turned into weeks as Mr. Moose continued to put the moves on Miss Bessie. People began to drop by and point and laugh and take pictures. Soon the media was clicking and flashing and the local lovebirds became international celebs! Not bad for a backwoods boy who was as handsome as a sack full of ugly! No doubt about it, Mr. Moose became the Leonardo DeCaprio of moosedom.

    Farmer Larry’s comment about the mixed up romance was a bit pragmatic to say the least. He said: “They’ve nuzzled like they’re kissing but I ain’t seen no action!”

    What was it about this wayward moose that caused such a reaction from the public? Well, I think it can be summed up in one word—LOVE! Mr. Moose became a symbol of all those who risk scorn and pain, and ridicule in the name of love. You see Mr. Moose scaled every boundary and overcame every fear in order to be with the one he loved. He didn’t care about what people, or his fellow moose buddies would say or think. He wasn’t concerned with appearances. It didn’t matter that they were from different backgrounds. True, he was a bit on the wild side and she had a proclivity for the domestic, but what of it? And, who cares that she was a little bit country and he was a little bit rock n’ roll? He was completely sold out for love! Go ahead and call me a romantic smoe, but I think the world need more displays of this kind of impassioned abandon.

    This is especially true when we begin to consider our love for Jesus. It’s not very often then you see such a public, sold out, over the wall display of extravagant love for Jesus, is it?

    To me, the greatest display of extravagant love toward Jesus was exhibited by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. This display is so extravagant that I just don’t get it! In John 12:3-5, we read, “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

    Here we have Mary in the home of Simon the Leper (nice name isn’t it?) A party’s going on and there’s a lot of people in assemblage. In the midst of this party, Mary comes in and pours a year and a quarters wages (300 work days) over Jesus feet then wipes them with her hair. From Mark’s account, we understand that this gift of Mary’s most likely cleaned out her bank account. Jesus literally says, “what she had, she gave.” Wow? How much do you make in a year and a quarter?—gross, not net! Would you be willing to pour it out on Jesus’ feet?

It ain’t practical, plain and simple.

    Sounds crazy doesn’t it! I don’t know about you, but this account makes me more than a bit uncomfortable. Why? Well, I don’t like siding with Judas that’s why! At least if you look at the parallel accounts in Mark and Matthew, it seems that it was more than just Judas who voiced their disdain. I guess he just voiced it the loudest! But, I have to tell you that I understand Judas’ reaction more than I understand Mary’s actions.

    Oh, I understand Mary’s devotion. No matter who you are, that much is clear. Mary loooooovvvved Jesus! But I don’t understand why she invested over a year’s income into something that would be pour out in the matter of seconds. It ain’t practical, plain and simple. It’s crazy impulsive and extraordinarily extravagant. And, even though I understand the significance that Jesus places upon this act of devotion, I have to say, I just don’t get it. But, you know what? That’s the point! We aren’t supposed to get it.

    Radical, extravagant love isn’t meant to be understood, it’s just meant to be observed. Mary didn’t care about cost, nor did she care about how things looked. Nor did she care about what was proper, or dignified. She didn’t care about her reputation or the criticism that was guaranteed to flow. She just had to express her love, regardless of the cost or consequences.

    I guess I really should say that she did care about her reputation, and the criticism, I mean who doesn’t, but she cared more about openly demonstrating her love for Jesus. Imagine! Ok, so what’s the point. Well, it’s just one this time around, but it’s quite a doosy.

    The world should look at you and I and scratch their heads, and point their fingers at us, just as the disciples did Mary. They should think that we are crazy, and reckless, and foolish in our devotion to Christ. We should be open and radical enough in our love for Christ that our actions prompt a response from the unbelieving community around us.

    Why do you give so much time to your church when you work all those hours every week? Don’t you need to relax? Why do you give so much money to your church? Aren’t we taxed enough? Why do you teach Sunday School? Why do you help people that don’t even appreciate it? Why? Why? Why? What’s in it for you? These should be the kinds of questions that flow naturally from the activities of our lives. If our faith doesn’t cause a few heads to be scratched in confusion, then our sacrifice, our love, our devotion isn’t fragrant enough to be smelled! It’s time to smash the bottle folks!

    Here’s a statement you might like to quote: The Church needs more Christians who stink! Stink, that is, with the perfume of unbridled love and devotion. Next time you see me, I would consider it an honor if you told me, “Grant, you stink!” If you don’t want to be so forward, I’ll give you an alternative. Grant, in the pasture of love for your Savior, you’re a big ugly moose. Now that’s a compliment I pray I have and will continue to earn!

HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine is a ministry of loving Christians and the Westover Hills church of Christ.
Edited by Phil Ware and Paul Lee.
Copyright © 1996-97, Heartlight, Inc., 8332 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78759.
Article copyright (c) 1998, Grant MacDonald. Used by permission. Visit Grant's Graceland for more terrific articles by Grant MacDonald.
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