union avenue christian church |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
Clear Signs Genesis 9:8 – 17; Mark 1:9 – 15 Henri Nouwen, priest, teacher, author, was fascinated with a family of trapeze artists — the Rodleighs. So fascinated was Nouwen that he not only wrote and spoke about them, but traveled with them as they toured with a German circus all around Europe. One day, as he was talking with the leader about flying through the air “with the greatest of ease,” Nouwen was surprised that Rodleigh gave the credit to his catcher. “As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher,” Rodleigh told Nouwen. “The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him…the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly to Joe, I simply have to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me and pull me to safety.” “The worst thing a flyer can do,” Rodleigh continued, “is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. It’s Joe’s task to catch me. If I grabbed Joe’s wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust with outstretched arms, that the catcher will be there for him.” (TheSprings.org/view.asp?file=1082) Undoubtedly there was something about trapeze flying that enchanted and inspired Nouwen, but the theological imagery coming from this conversation with Mr. Rodleigh substantiated Nouwen’s interest. I have not known a trapeze artist, although trapeze is a class and discipline in which young actors must be involved and so I have heard my son talk about this. I have heard no one in this congregation mention artistry on the trapeze. But I was thinking about other “catchers” in our lives. Every day, as I pass an elementary school there is a crossing guard there to help the children get across the street safely. When, as children, we took gymnastics or got on the trampoline, we always had to have a spotter. Learning to swim — or swimming in a public pool or at many beaches — there will be a certified lifeguard. Learning to drive a car for many of us meant having to drive with a teacher or parent who tried to make sure we made good decisions in our early driving. Many professionals are required to work through internships – again, so that our mistakes would be caught and we would be somewhat protected as we learned all aspects of a job. Even if none of us have tried the trapeze, most of us have tried…risked…challenged ourselves to push beyond the moment. And in that moment, we have had the assurance that someone else is watching, catching, spotting, and providing a safety net. Lent — this precious season that prepares us for Easter — is a risk taking time. It is — or can be — a time of reflection when we figure out where we are in God’s purposes for this world. It is — or can be — opportunity to wonder what it is that God wants. It is a risky season and if traversed properly is not for sissies. It can be a time when we face who we are – who we may have become without noticing – and allow that reflection to face who it is that God might want us to be. It is a time when we face the living situation in which we reside — be that a family, a workplace, this community of faith — and truly perceive that situation as fully as possible, wondering what the situation would be if God had God’s way with us. It can be a time when we consider:
It is a time when we honestly reflect on the shortness of faith and the fullness of ourselves. It is a time when we allow opportunity to account for the busyness we have placed in our lives so that we don’t have to think about any serious development or creative expression but just applaud ourselves for being exhausted from doing so much. It is a time when we go to the wilderness and engage all kind of wild beasts, savage temptations, terrifying and unknown possibilities because it is a time when we reflect as fully upon ourselves – the ones we have become as opposed to the ones God would want us to be. If we do that reflection, there will be possibility of great change, of movement toward the one God has called us to be, the one God has dreamed of, the one God needs us to be in this world today. And Easter will indeed bring new life! BUT this Lenten journey I describe is far too scary to do unprotected. This kind of Lenten reflection is much too risky to begin alone. This trek is not one to fly solo. Our scriptures today point to clear signs that Noah and Jesus received in order for them to continue. We need the same. Noah, as the story tells, was instrumental in the development of renewed life on this earth. Only because Noah built the ark and got those animals and his sons and wives on it was there a possibility for earthly life to continue. Who would want to be living in such a chaotic world. As the story goes, Noah did what he was told – most of the time – but certainly he must have wondered when another flood, another total devastation of his world would occur. And so God made a promise and claimed that the rainbow would be a sign. It won’t happen again and the rainbow will be a reminder to me, says God. I don’t think God needed a reminder. God surely doesn’t need a tickler file, calendar, or post-it notes. The rainbow was for us. The rainbow is for us to remember that we will never again be left alone to deal with total chaos. We will never be left to our own devices to make it through this life. Centuries later, this man called Jesus was getting ready for a short-term but powerful ministry. Jesus finally realized he had been chosen to fulfill the greatest need of this world. He was about to throw himself into a cauldron of conflict with the religious institution, allow powers to flow through him that no one else could do, teach, preach and heal day after day after day until he was finally stopped by a gruesome death. And in all of this, have only a group of fairly bumbling disciples and followers to help him. Our Gospel passage indicates Jesus was driven out to the wilderness for 40 days before this entire ministry commenced. That wilderness experience was only a foretaste of the wilderness experience that would be his ministry. How and why could he even entertain the idea? He received a sign, a clear sign, as he was coming up from the waters of baptism — the word, definite, unmistakable, indisputable word of God spoke to him: “you are my beloved, my son, with whom I am well pleased.” That word — I believe — that sign was like the catcher for the trapeze artist, the spotter for the gymnast, the lifeguard for the swimmer. Jesus could proceed. He could entertain the demons of the wilderness. He would be able to engage the people of the world. He would be able to deal with the few faithful followers. God was with him, and God’s clear voice and sign had become apparent. So, Lenten travelers, if you choose to proceed and take on this season of introspection and reflection, of clearing out who we have been so that we might be able to see who we could be and who it is that God wants us to be, where is the sign? Who will be our catcher? How can we dare, risk, venture, walk in the wilderness? Of course, first of all we must decide it is important. We must claim that a season of time would be opportunity for interior work. We must affirm that trying to align ourselves with the ones God would want us to be is a venture of worth. What would be the sign that those wilderness venturings could be made with the least possible risk? What assuring sign can we cling to, wrap around us, hold as we begin this wildness walk?
With God, Jesus Christ, and members/friends of this congregation being the assuring and clear signs that wilderness walks will not be done alone…surely it is safe. We are meant to be flyers. Flyers must fly with outstretched arms knowing the catcher will catch. May these days of Lent be chosen as a flying adventure. May the spirit draw you into the wilderness. But know that you will not be alone. SW |
OUR LIFE OUR WORSHIP OUR STUDY OUR HISTORY OUR CHURCH LINKS
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||
