[Note that the following text is what Bishop Sprague preached from and was not written as a document for others to read.]

INTRODUCTION — By listening to the Genesis narrative carefully; that is, by taking the biblical text seriously, but not literally, and then seeking to correlate it with the cultural reality that today is Father’s Day, you are invited to consider parenthood, in general, and fatherhood, in particular, as “A Laughing Matter.”

TEXT — It was just that for Sarah and Abraham.  Old and dry, shriveled and beyond the ‘monthlies’, more like wrinkled prunes than ripe grapes, first Abraham, rolling on the ground convulsively, and then Sarah, leaning against the tent’s opening for support, the old couple treated the news of their announced parenthood, generally, and Abraham’s coming fatherhood, specifically, as “ A Laughing Matter.”

This Genesis story is beautifully told.  After the reference to A’s laughter in Chapter 17, the story in Chapter 18 is divided into two parts: First, A & S hectically hurry and scurry to provide gracious hospitality for the strangers, who were their guests; and, Then, the 3 guests take center pole in the tent, as one of them, the spokesman, who is in essence the personification of the Lord, the Holy One, tells A & S what’s what.  This is a theophany; a revelation of God’s spoken intent to humans.  The hospitality of A & S set the context for this happening, but the Holy One filled the tent with holy intent and broadcast the news that shattered the status quo and brought discontinuity to the lives and routines of A & S.  For these two biblical members of Mamre’s chapter of AARP, parenthood, in general, and fatherhood, in particular, was for S & A, “ A Laughing Matter.”

PERSONAL — So, too, was it so for the Spragues, in general; and, for me, in particular, many years ago.  Diane and I just celebrated our 49th wedding anniversary.  Three days prior to this anniversary, our eldest child celebrated his 48th birthday.  Do the math and it becomes readily apparent that we brought a son home on our first anniversary.  Better to marry than burn! That was “A Laughing Matter.”  Truth be told, at the ripe ages of 20 and 21, we didn’t know who we were, as individuals, let alone as a married couple.  Our training on how to parent a child, father a son, was sparse to non–existent.  But, there he was anyhow: A beautiful boy child for us to raise.  As I look back, now, it is apparent that though I loved him dearly, was so proud of him, and was utterly convinced that he was the most beautiful, brilliant, and beatific son in history, I did not have a clue.  Diane was more advanced than I, but not by much.  In the early going, parenthood, in general, and fatherhood, in particular, was for us, “ A Laughing Matter.”

CONTEXTUAL — But, not nearly as much for us, as it too often is for too many youngsters in today’s culture.  Last weekend, I went to our 14 year old grandson’s baseball tournament.  They played more games than Carter used to have little liver pills.  Making it to the finals, the buzz around the diamond was that though our team was good and had some big boys, who could ‘jack’ the ball, the other team was really big and quite mature, for 14 year olds.  They could ‘jack’ more than baseballs.  To wit, the third baseman already had fathered one child, with a second on the way, by a second girl, an aged 16 year old! [ Now, lest you jump to stereotypical false conclusions, let me say that, save for our team’s Vietnamese outfielder/pitcher, both teams in the finals were all white.] I shook my head, in dismay, as I watched the third baseman field grounders.  Fatherhood, at age 14, tragically, “ A Laughing Matter.” That isn’t even funny!

A few weeks ago, I attended a high school graduation ceremony in a football stadium.  It was a chilly, make that cold, May evening.  The skimpiness of dress, almost covering the private body parts of some, despite the night chill, was incomprehensible, exceeded only by the incongruity of the large number of children being parented by other children. Single young parents, toting their children under arm, lovingly, but without a clue. Children raising children!  And, some wonder why there are discipline issues in our schools and gang cultures on our streets. For teen parents, especially for plant–the–seed –and–run teen fathers, parenthood has become “ A Laughing Matter.” That isn’t even funny.

GOOD NEWS — Stories, far too many sad, even tragic stories, in which raucous laughter morphs into rivers of tears, making parenthood, in general, and fatherhood, in particular, no laughing matter.  A stark reality that isn’t even funny.  But, there are other realities, hopeful stories, that nudge fits of laughter toward spasms of joy.

1] In the biblical story, A & S, despite their laughter of disbelief, their reactions of incredulity, become the father and mother of Isaac, the child of promise, the progenitor of Israel.  Their disbelief and subsequent laughter of derision were trumped by God’s grace.  God’s amazing grace made a way where there seemingly was no way, and Isaac was conceived and born.  And the Holy One, emitting grace upon grace, had the last laugh.  In the kingdom, where the crooked is made straight and God makes a way where there is no way, the Holy One transforms human ineptitude into“A Laughing Matter.”  When faith gives grace an inch, like providing gracious hospitality to strangers in a tent by the oaks of Mamre, God takes a wondrous mile! What “ A Laughing Matter!”

2] As I gratefully observe what our children have become as persons and parents, including the eldest, who was our guinea pig, I am overcome, as I silently convulse with the laughter of joy.  And, while, like Dr.  King, who was rated by his daughter Yolanda as “ about average”, as a father, I wasn’t all I wish I had been, when I see our children turning my C+, as a father, into a resounding A, for their efforts, I realize that grace abounds.  That Diane made so much possible, while I was out saving the world; that extended family, especially our children’s grandparents, filled many gaps; and that at some level the children came to accept and affirm most of my jousting with windmills ,even if they did pay a steep price for my vocational proclivities with frequent moves and a too absent father.  Their understanding, forgiveness, and the parents they have become speak volumes about them and God’s amazing grace, mediated by a faithful mother, doting grandparents, exceptional mates, extended family, and special friends from church and schools.  Maybe, just maybe, it is because of mediated grace, that I am able to embrace being a grandfather, as “ A Laughing Matter.”

3] At Covenant UMC, the ‘other’ congregation on the two–point charge I am presently riding, three wonderful men just took 9 high schools boys on an extended trip, two weeks ago.  The youth visited colleges, went deep sea fishing, swam in the ocean, managed their money, and took responsibility for their own behavior and maturation under the careful scrutiny of Christ–like disciples, adult male mentors, who love them and are the fathering presence in their lives that most of these youths do not have in their homes.  These youth prepared a reading they will present in Springfield, when Jesse Jackson is our Covenant UMC guest, later this summer.  But, most of all, they were/are being guided by committed mentors to take giant steps into Christ–like manhood at a time when there are more young black men in prison than in college in this nation.  When I look at these young men, joy floods my soul.  By grace, mediated through their loving mothers and Covenant’s caring mentors, they will make it! “ A Laughing Matter”, to be sure, in the midst of so much grief in urban America.

And that graduation? In the midst of my chagrin about children raising children, here was a graduate , who worked two jobs to pay for his own room and board so as to remain in school and graduate, while performing a myriad of service projects, and doing well enough musically and academically to garner a college scholarship.  All because of his own tenacity, coupled with teachers and some in the community, who encouraged and supported him.  It does take a village to raise a child, if the tears of troubled youths are to become “A Laughing Matter” for budding adults.

CONCLUSION — So what are we to make of all of this? Perhaps to provide God’s grace a little room, a bit of access, to the most dried–up situations, trusting that the most amazing things can and will occur.  Two prunes produced a ripe grape, the beloved child of promise, because two old–timers granted hospitality to strangers.  Children of ‘about average’ parents, like most of us, became wonderful parents and delightful adults because the extended family, school, and church filled the gaps and God touched our off–spring through the caresses of many.  Some, but only a few, of those teen parents are finding their feeble efforts to parent faithfully supplemented by grandmothers, mothers, and male mentors from churches, congregations which realize that viable congregations must become hospitable villages which will make radical commitments to raise a new generation of well–nurtured children.  Parched realities can be transformed into pregnant possibilities whenever a modicum of human faith welcomes God’s always abundant grace.  This combination of a little faith and much grace always has and always will transform the arid desert of despair into a wet oasis of hope.  Now that, dear friends, is “ A Laughing Matter.” Amen.