April 2, 2008

“April Fools!”

When our son Steve was a little boy, he loved April Fools Day. He would repeat various exaggerations, and then shout with glee, “April Fools!” I am not sure what appealed to him so much about that day. Perhaps it was the fact that otherwise we always stressed as a family telling the truth, but on April 1st, it was OK to make up elaborate statements and out-right lies (like running in and saying, “Dad, a tree just fell on your car”). Perhaps he just liked trying to fool people. I am not sure about the attraction, but he really got into that April Fools Day stuff.

Yesterday I even pulled an April Fools Day joke on my Administrative Assistant, Ed Metzler. Ed has quite a nice sense of humor, and he often tries to surprise and even fool me, so yesterday I took my shot. Marsha and I are in Florida, enjoying some vacation and visiting my parents, so I sent Ed an e-mail telling him that, “We have decided to come home early. The weather is just too nice and sunny, the beach has too much sand, and the flowers and trees are too green down here. Please pick us up at the airport tonight because we want to get home while it is still April Fools Day.” Ed was not fooled, although he did say that his initial reading of my e-mail surprised him and made him wonder what was wrong.

April Fools Day reminds us that we are all called to be “fools for Christ.” The Apostle Paul reminds us (in I Corinthians 1:18-31) that “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”

Isn’t it true? So much of our faith seems like foolishness, but in fact God uses our foolishness, our weakness, and our human failings to teach the world about the truth, the strength, and the power of faith.

My daughter Laura sent me an Aprils Fools Day story about an atheist who went court demanding that atheism receive formal holidays just like other religions. The judge threw the law suit out of court, observing that atheists already have their holiday -- it is April Fools Day!

I may be a fool, and I certainly do not have all wisdom, but I want to be a fool for Christ.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church

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