PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

June 26, 2022

A DAILY REMINDER

Recently Thomas Jefferson’s watch key returned to Monticello.  He used the key to daily wind his pocket watch.  When wound, the pocket watch and key would hang from a chain attached to Jefferson’s waistcoat.  The key is engraved with his deceased wife’s name and the dates of her birth and death.  It also contains a plait of her hair.  Winding his watch was a daily tribute to his deceased wife.

Today, we have the advantage of having photography.  Around our house we have pictures of our parents.  In our living room are drawings of Diane’s grandmother and grandfather.  You can also find small objects that belonged to our parents.  Each day they remind us of these persons who had a significant influence in our lives, who loved us and sacrificed for us, and who will remain in our hearts and thoughts during our journey under the sun.

In the Book of Deuteronomy Moses tells the people: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:4-9)

It would appear that Moses understood that with the business of life it would be easy for the people to lose sight of their singular allegiance to the Lord God.  Thus, there was the need for daily reminders.  Just as Jefferson had his watch key to daily remind him of Martha, the Hebrew people had phylacteries, small leather containers bound on their persons to reminder them of the Shema, “You shall love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

The tradition of the phylacteries continues in homes in America today.  In our hallway we have a embroidery of the Lord’s Prayer which was given to us by a member of the Grace United Methodist Church in Rochester, Indiana.  It is a daily reminder of the prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples and of the lady who did it.  When I would visit in the homes of parishioners many of them had framed copies of the poem “Footprints in the Sand.”  These words were a daily reminder that Jesus was walking with them each day.

If you visit Monticello you can find Jefferson’s watch key in his Bedchamber atop a mahogany dressing table the family called “Mrs. Jefferson’s bureau.”  I wonder what other keepsakes you might find in the room that would have connected Jefferson with Martha Wayles Jefferson.  If you happen to visit, you might check it out.

After the author of the Book of Hebrews had enumerated many of the heroes of the Hebrew faith, he writes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1, 2a, b)  Surrounded by keepsakes of his wife, was Jefferson inspired to run with perseverance the race that was set before him?  Keepsakes and memories from the past can inspire all of us to run with perseverance the race that is set before us.