The Defining Mark
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Rollin and Tom were colleagues at a small Christian college. Both were esteemed professors, one teaching the New Testament and the other family counseling. Their relationship at best was distant. They would say "hello" to each other when they passed in the hall or at staff meetings, but that was the extent of their relationship. They were friendly toward each other but did not consider themselves friends. On important issues Rollin and Tom were on opposing sides, often at odds with each other.
It just so happened that Rollin and Tom were attending a seminar in New York City. Of course they traveled separately even though they would be staying at the same hotel. Shortly after dinner Tom became violently ill. He made it as far as the men's room before collapsing. He would later claim it was something he ate that did not agree with him. What he actually said was he suffered from food poisoning. When Rollin saw what had happened to Tom he took him to his hotel room. Rollin helped Tom into bed and called the front desk to find out if there might be a doctor on call. An hour later the doctor arrived and prescribed medicine. The doctor instructed Tom to stay in bed and get as much rest as he could for the next 24 hours. Most importantly, he was not to attempt to eat anything although it was important to keep his fluid levels up.
Rollin would stay at Tom's side, taking good care of him. He telephoned Tom's spouse to inform her that her husband was sick but he would be all right. He notified the person in charge of the seminar of Tom's condition, as well as the Dean back home. Throughout the night whenever Tom needed help, Rollin was there.
The next morning Tom felt much better but was very weak. Rollin found a store and bought him some ginger ale. Rollin did not leave Tom's side until he was certain that he would be all right.
Later Tom would tell one of his classes that he never would have volunteered or desired to room or even travel with Rollin. He would never have thought of going out to dinner with Rollin and his wife or doing anything social with them. But that night in the hotel room he saw a side of Rollin he had never seen before. Even though they might not have been friends they were united as Christians. Tom experienced love in action. That night when he was so sick Rollin was there with him, helping him through a very unpleasant situation. Tom was glad Rollin was there. There would be times when these two professors would find themselves on opposing sides, but deep down they were on the same side -- they were Christians who lived out their convictions.
It just so happened that Rollin and Tom were attending a seminar in New York City. Of course they traveled separately even though they would be staying at the same hotel. Shortly after dinner Tom became violently ill. He made it as far as the men's room before collapsing. He would later claim it was something he ate that did not agree with him. What he actually said was he suffered from food poisoning. When Rollin saw what had happened to Tom he took him to his hotel room. Rollin helped Tom into bed and called the front desk to find out if there might be a doctor on call. An hour later the doctor arrived and prescribed medicine. The doctor instructed Tom to stay in bed and get as much rest as he could for the next 24 hours. Most importantly, he was not to attempt to eat anything although it was important to keep his fluid levels up.
Rollin would stay at Tom's side, taking good care of him. He telephoned Tom's spouse to inform her that her husband was sick but he would be all right. He notified the person in charge of the seminar of Tom's condition, as well as the Dean back home. Throughout the night whenever Tom needed help, Rollin was there.
The next morning Tom felt much better but was very weak. Rollin found a store and bought him some ginger ale. Rollin did not leave Tom's side until he was certain that he would be all right.
Later Tom would tell one of his classes that he never would have volunteered or desired to room or even travel with Rollin. He would never have thought of going out to dinner with Rollin and his wife or doing anything social with them. But that night in the hotel room he saw a side of Rollin he had never seen before. Even though they might not have been friends they were united as Christians. Tom experienced love in action. That night when he was so sick Rollin was there with him, helping him through a very unpleasant situation. Tom was glad Rollin was there. There would be times when these two professors would find themselves on opposing sides, but deep down they were on the same side -- they were Christians who lived out their convictions.
