Nearly two years ago Melissa and I took our first trip together – without the children! We “farmed out” the kids to each set of grandparents and took off for a mini-vacation to New York City. I hadn’t visited “the Big Apple” since my days in college nearly thirty years ago, while Melissa had never been to New York. We had a spectacular time!

There are so many memories of that wonderful time away. One in particular I recalled this past week. Melissa and I decided one morning to walk across the BrooklynBridge. Obviously it is a terrific tourist destination and on this 75 degree summer day the bridge was crowded with sightseers. I read that more than 4000 pedestrians and 3100 cyclists cross the bridge each day and I understand why. The BrooklynBridge is an American icon – it stands for immigrant populations that made New York their home; it lifts up human sacrifice and ingenuity; it inspires people from all cultures and continents with its height and beauty.

We walked the bridge and stopped often for pictures, to look over the harbor and to breathe in the beauty of the 130 year old bridge. The bridge was designed by John Roebling, a German immigrant and engineer. While inspecting footings for the bridge, his foot was pinched between great stones and ultimately infection led to an amputation. When the limb became infected again, John Roebling died. He left the project in the hands of his son Washington Roebling. Washington too, fell victim to a debilitating illness that left him bed ridden. It was at this point that Washington Roebling’s wife, Emily, stepped in as the first woman field engineer and saw out the completion of the BrooklynBridge.

As the only person to visit her husband during his sickness, Emily was to relay information from Washington to his assistants and report the progress of work on the bridge. She developed an extensive knowledge of strength of materials, stress analysis, cable construction, through Washington’s teachings. For the next fourteen years, Emily’s dedication to the completion of the BrooklynBridge was unyielding. She took over much of the chief engineer’s duties, including day-to-day supervision and project management. She dealt with politicians, competing engineers, and all those associated with the work on the bridge to the point where people believed she was behind the bridge’s design!

At the official opening in 1883, carrying a rooster as a sign of victory, Emily Roebling was the first to cross the bridge by carriage. At the opening ceremony, Emily was honored in a speech by the mayor of New York who said that the bridge was an everlasting monument to the sacrificing devotion of one woman. Today the BrooklynBridge holds a plaque dedicated to the memory of Emily, her husband, and her father-in-law.

I remember standing before that plaque with Melissa not so very long ago and telling her what a wonderful homily that story would make. Don’t we all need someone behind us to complete our greatest works? In my life I think of presiding on Sunday mornings and how Melissa is my co-creator in preaching. I think of the musicians and readers, greeters and hosts, the altar guild and staff people who make the liturgies “happen.” I am reminded of how often I turn to my colleagues in ministry for direction and inspiration. I think of all my friends and family members who support me and love me and encourage me. The truth is, everything I do and everything I am is a result of the sacrificing devotion of others. And this is true for each of us.

Who are the people who stand beside and behind you? Who are the people who lift you up and allow you to do great things? Who are the ones who sacrifice for you? Perhaps this season of summer will provide a moment of leisure for you to reflect on your life and to be grateful for those who are your co-creators. Even more, perhaps each of us will find an opportunity to tell of our gratitude. Nothing we do is ever done alone. Be aware of who has helped you in life, be grateful for these people of sacrifice, and most of all, speak your words of love and gratitude.

Once upon a time there was an old pencil maker named Spiros. Every day he worked diligently with wood and graphite and rubber to make the most extraordinary pencils. Artists and writers, accountants and children all used his wonderful writing instruments. With his pencils in their hands they could sketch the most magnificent drawings, and create the most beautiful stories. Mathematics came easily for those keeping accounts and children seemed to fly through their studies. The children of the village wanted to know what it was that made Spiros’ pencils so magical.

One day a dozen children gathered at his window and peeked inside his house to watch him work. Spiros carefully chose his wood and carved it down to size. Then he gently sanded the edges and drilled a hole throughout the length. Slipping in the thin graphite rod he finally capped the end with a piece of rubber for the eraser and crimped it on with a piece of thin metal. Finally he stamped his name with a hot iron – “Spiros!” Then the old man did the oddest thing – he set the pencil before him and spoke to it.

Now listen up little pencil! If you are to make a difference in the world, there are five things that you need to know before I send you out to an artist or a writer, an accountant or a child. Always remember these five things – never forget them – and you will become the best pencil you can be!

The first thing is to remember that you will be able to do a great many things, but only if you put yourself in someone else’s hands. Second, from time to time you experience a painful sharpening, but remember this will make you a better pencil. Third, always keep in mind that mistakes will be made, but mistakes can always be corrected. Erase your mistakes, start again, and move on. Fourth, and this is key – the most important part of you is what is on the inside. And last of all – upon every surface that you are used you must leave your mark. No matter what happens along the way, you must continue to write. Do all of these things and you will be extraordinary!

Spiros put the pencil onto a pile with many others, rose from his workbench and walked to the open window where the children were standing. What I have said is not just for magical pencils. Live like this my little friends and you too will be extraordinary. The children did remember what Spiros taught them, and lived happily every after.

This is such a simple little fairytale but with a much deeper meaning. As Christian disciples we too can lead extraordinary lives but we must place ourselves into the hands of God. It was Mother Teresa who said: I feel like a pencil in God’s hand, and however imperfect an instrument I might be, God always writes beautifully! Each day we must live in such a way that we are instruments in the hands of the Divine. Then we must trust that we will be used as instruments of healing and wholeness, peace and Good News to others. First and foremost we are pencils in the hands of God.

This parable also causes us to look at the setbacks and trials of our lives against an infinite horizon. Perhaps the trials and tribulations of our life can soften us to the pain around us. Perhaps we can arise from setbacks ever stronger and more resolved. The moments of failure can sharpen us even more than the moments of triumph. And certainly each of us needs to remember that mistakes are not what define us as Christians. As I mention so often in my preaching: We are not defined even by our greatest mistakes and sins – we are defined by the mercy of God that comes to us in Jesus Christ. Mistakes will be made. The trick is to accept God’s mercy, correct our mistakes and begin again.

Like the story of Spiros and the pencil, Jesus was always trying to tell his disciples that it was what was on the inside that was most important. The world saw them as simple fisherman, or tax collectors, or poor peasant men and women. On the inside however, they were children of God! They were of infinite worth! They were extraordinary! And most of all, Jesus was commanding his followers to go out into the world and leave a mark. In essence this is what the season of Pentecost is all about: Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age. (Matt.28:19-20)

In this season of Pentecost, remember the story of Spiros and the pencil. Remember that you are an instrument in the hand of God. Be extraordinary!