“They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind’”

–Acts 12:15a

As part of a family vacation a few years back, we spent a week at a North Carolina beach. The coast south of Wilmington has long been a favorite and as part of this journey we made a day trip to Bald Head Island. That spot is accessible only by water. They have regular ferries from Southport, but my niece and her husband offered to take us over in their boat.  After two such excursions, as our group was too numerous for all to go together, we arrived on the island. 

It was lunchtime, so before we began to explore the island on foot we headed to a restaurant near the harbor. After placing my order I walked through the bar in the adjoining room and to the restroom to wash my hands. A few minutes after returning, I realized my wallet was gone. My swimsuit had a pocket, but apparently not deep enough. I looked under the table. Some went outside to retrace my steps while I returned to the restroom. It wasn’t there. 

Walking back toward our table the bartender stopped me. “Are you John?” he asked. “Yes.” “Someone found your wallet in the restroom and turned it in.” You can imagine how relieved I was to hear that word and as I thanked him he went on to say “I found your business card and just left a message at the church telling them you could pick-up your wallet at the bar.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t nearly as appreciative! I began to picture the animated conversation surely occurring right then in the church office on a slow summer day. Soon, three in our group received a text or voice message from a member of my staff. All of them seemed to relish mentioning that my wallet could be picked up at the bar. When I returned to work the next week, I quickly told my staff what had happened. Their looks suggested not everyone viewed my words as credible!

That was true for a first century woman named Rhoda, too. She was housekeeper in the home of John Mark’s mother. It was a perilous time for Christians. Herod Agrippa, the king of Judea and nephew of the ruler who allowed Jesus’s death had just ordered the death of James, one of the disciples. When Agrippa saw that the execution pleased the religious leaders he had Peter arrested, too. In response to that act a group of Jesus’ followers had gathered at the home to pray. 

In events described earlier in the twelfth chapter of Acts, Peter is freed and goes to the home where the group has assembled. He knocks on the outer gate and Rhoda comes to answer.  When she recognizes his voice, Rhoda is so thrilled that she forgets to open the gate and instead runs inside to tell the group. The very ones praying for his release respond “You are out of your mind…It is his angel.”  Peter continues to knock. When they open the gate, Peter tells them what has happened, encourages them to spread the word, and then continues on his way. 

That scene is the only time Rhoda appears in Scripture, but her story is a fitting metaphor for the life of faith. When we forgive one who has harmed us or choose to give generously of our treasures, others will question that choice. When we add to our schedule by going to worship or speak a soft word in response to anger, some people will wonder why. When we are honest even though no one is watching or honor our commitments even as others do not, when we refuse to laugh at a joke that demeans someone else or in some other way choose to act in a counter- cultural way due to what we believe Jesus would have us do, there will be persons who don’t like it. They may even think or say that we are out of our mind.

Apparently, even if they have been praying for the very thing that just happened.

Source of all truth, keep us faithful to your will and way, whether or not others believe us. Amen.