Topic: The Cathedral and the Phonebooth
Contributor: Dr Leong Chee Lu
Date: July 2008

As a student in England in the 1970s, I had many occasions to visit two types of 'buildings' - the awe-inspiring towering grand cathedrals and the ubiquitous box-like red telephone booths that dotted the whole country.

I read somewhere that one such grand Cathedral in Liverpool and the utilitarian telephone booth were both designed by the same man, the great English architect Sir Giles Scott. There is a lesson for us here.

We see here a genius who did not consider it below his dignity to use his gifts to design something totally 'unbeautiful' but most practical, benefiting millions even to this day - the telephone booth. He displayed a humility which matched his greatness.  

Which reminds us of our Lord Jesus, at the same time the awesome   Creator and sustainer of our universe and the simple Carpenter . The Son of God who created our awesome Universe also made the simple furniture for Mary's kitchen. No task was too low for Him.

As Jesus himself said:

  "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much"   Luke 16:10

He further underscored the point for us by washing his disciples' feet:

"Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."   John 13:14

Our Servant-King bids us to follow Him.   Indeed, what our Lord looks for when we serve is our humility and faithfulness which should result in right attitudes and commitment. Our gifts and abilities are only 'extras' to Him, good to have, but not essential.     

The cathedral and the telephone booth have yet another lesson for us. Both are means of communication. In a cathedral we talk with God, in a telephone booth we talk with men. But we cannot talk with God unless we can also talk with each other, especially in God's family. We cannot fellowship with our God unless we can also do that with our brothers and sisters.

The Apostle Paul emphasised the point again and again:

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Rom.14:19

"Accept one anther another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Rom.15:7

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave us." ( Col.3:13)

 

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