Sermon by Visionary Leader Kirbyjon Caldwell
Text: Luke 10:30–37
“Life be life’n.” That’s an idiom that means life hits you hard—unexpectedly and painfully—in ways that make you want to cry, complain, or curse. Visionary Leader Kirbyjon Caldwell reminded us that complaining is even worse than cursing because it shows how much life is trying to choke you.
Life Be Life’n Moments
Kirbyjon Caldwell shared vivid examples of life’s harsh realities:
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Suzette’s granddog left in a cage—a small but real reminder of life’s sting.
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A 10-year-old staring at his injured eye while his father pulled him away in embarrassment. Kirbyjon Caldwell would have said plainly: “Yes, my eye is damaged. Life be life’n.”
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Parents sending their child to camp, only to receive the terrifying news that the child was missing in a flood. In those moments, life can literally take your breath away.
The Ditch of Life
Like the man beaten on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30), life can leave you stripped, bruised, and alone in the ditch. When you’re down, the world looks different. Five inches from the ground, you see and smell things you never notice standing tall. Even worse, people may look down on you, and the danger is that you begin seeing yourself the way they do.
Yet Kirbyjon Caldwell reminded us: where you are doesn’t determine where you’re going. Your present doesn’t define your future. And who ignores you doesn’t define your worth.
God’s Kiss in the Midst of Life
Life flows through the neck. When it tries to choke you—through finances, family secrets, or sickness—God’s kiss can revive you. Kirbyjon Caldwell suggested a simple daily devotion:
“Lord, kiss me on my neck with Your grace, mercy, favor, power, and forgiveness. Although life be life’n, I shall live!”
Lessons from the Good Samaritan
The priest and Levite walked by the beaten man, following tradition while avoiding moral obligation. But the Samaritan stopped. He tore his own shirt for bandages, poured wine to cleanse the wounds, and added oil to comfort the pain. He carried the man to an inn—a picture of the church, where anyone, no matter how broken, belongs.
Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan. He emptied Himself so that we could live abundantly. The wine cleanses the past, the oil comforts the present, and the inn gives hope for the future.
Final Encouragement
Even when life be life’n, remember Micah: “Though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” And David: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
No matter how hard life hits, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
