IS 1:10, 16-20
PS 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23
MT 23:1-12
Caleb Williams was a great friend to
my family when I was growing up. A
married father of two girls, he worked in the paper mill in my hometown of
Millinocket, Maine and he looked every bit the part of a north New England
laborer. He wore his long hair under a
railroad conductor’s cap and preferred faded jeans and boots, no matter the
occasion. Although Caleb had a rough
exterior, it was clear to everyone who knew him that he loved sharing his
talents, his resources, and his time to help others--particularly young people.
In the Gospel that is being shared
during this second week of lent, Jesus cautions a crowd about the scribes and
Pharisees. “For they preach but do not
practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard
to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to
move them. All their works are performed
to be seen.”
When I hear these words, I’m reminded
of how easy it is for the best-intentioned people to worry about appearances
and forget the joy, fulfillment, and community that comes from humbly easing
others’ burdens, even in simple ways. Caleb
seemed to never forget this.
Caleb’s generosity became evident to
me when I was a teenager; I wanted to play the guitar, but my family couldn’t
afford to buy me one. Caleb knew about
my passion for music and after speaking with my mother he approached me with a
proposal. If I would agree to paint his
garage, he would buy me a guitar. Within
a month, his garage was painted (a bit sloppy, but painted none-the-less), and
I owned an instrument that would set the stage for a musical career that
remains today.
Caleb’s easing of a seemingly small
burden in my life all those years ago led to a myriad of gifts that I continue
to enjoy. Through music, I have
experienced extraordinary friendships, I have traveled to interesting places,
and I have developed a second vocation that provides me with a creative and
cathartic outlet. And I owe it all to a
man who dismissed any worries about pretense and lived his life in a way that,
to me, represents the respect and care for others that Jesus speaks about in
his Gospel.
Many years ago, Caleb died as he lived—easing
the burdens of others. Working high on a
scaffold, one of his young co-workers lost balance and Caleb instinctively
rushed to assist him. The co-worker was
saved and Caleb tragically fell, passing away in the hospital days later. In my adult life, I never got the chance to
properly thank Caleb for what his gesture meant to me. And I firmly believe that he would expect no
thanks for any of his gestures, big or small.
He simply wanted to help others, he wanted to be true to himself, and as
the Gospel suggests, he wanted to practice the kindness and humility that he
preached.
Rob Boyle, PhD is Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Management in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of
Business.
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