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Objects of our Devotion Acts 17:22 – 31; John 14:15 – 21 One of the most provoking questions asked of me months ago by the Union Avenue search committee was: “what would you have written about yourself in your own obituary?” I had heard and read of that question being asked. I had never been asked the question in an interview. It could be a life-changing question, if taken seriously and reflectively. At whatever age we are in the moment — no matter how many more years of expected life we have — it is prudent to consider what will be said about us (as the most important aspects, works, attitudes, passions, objects of devotion…for our entire life). The good news is that there is always time to change what might be said of us in the future. Is there something lasting, good and significant that will be said about us? Thornton Wilder in his classic work, Our Town, has written, “whenever you come near the human race, there’s layers and layers of nonsense … we all know that something is eternal. And it ain’t houses and it ain’t names … that something has to do with human beings.” A major character of the play is Emily. Both Emily and her second child died in childbirth. She realizes that she never truly appreciated being alive — the small moments…the deep moments…the moments to absorb and live anything of value. And so she asks the ‘stage manager’ in this play if she could go back for a day in her life. He doesn’t buy into her idea at all — initially. Finally, he relents and allows her to return — one day — and she chooses her 12th birthday. Emily, returning from the dead, on her 12th birthday has a pretty awful experience. No one really looked at each other. No one truly spoke to each other. When Emily tried to capture her mother’s attention to have a significant conversation…it failed. Soon, Emily is satisfied to go back to the grave, saddened by such beauty in life that no one sees. She asks the stage manager if anyone fully realizes life by living it. No, he says, sadly, no. We have this life…one life...to live.
Or are we skating through life – making do…getting along…moving so hastily that nothing of significance is happening…nothing of major import is driving us…or lots of things that are NOT important rule our days. Our scripture today comes from he apostle Paul’s many travels. Remember this man had been persecuting the early Christians of 2000 years ago. Then in a conversion experience he had been persuaded to actually become a Christian himself. Because he was a man of intensity and passion, he didn’t just become a follower of this new way called Christianity, but became one of the two major leaders of the church in his day. He and a colleague traveled the ancient world bringing this new faith to people. Some of the crowds welcomed him, some argued with him, and some ran him out of town. When he arrived in Athens — the great city of learned people — he was amazed at what he saw…amazed at what lured people…amazed at what seemed to be the values of this people. Athens was filled with idols — human-made objects that gave people assurance…toys that represented the devoted values of the Athenian people. Even though the term ‘idol’ is used on a weekly TV show that is seeking new young musical talent, we don’t often think in terms of idols in our lives. But there are many:
The list goes on and is personalized for every one of us. Our idols are the objects of our devotion…what drives us…what gives us meaning…what consumes our energy and fires our passion. What Paul found as he walked through the great city of Athens was that people had created images of all the objects of their devotion, and even had created one with the inscription ‘to an unknown god.’ Just in case one of the Athenians pet passions had not been made into an idol worthy of worship, this one would cover all. Wonder if Paul would react to us the same way… “Friends of America, 2005 – I see how extremely religious you are…you have such amazing objects of worship and devotion. I hear about them in the media…I see them as I travel your land.
But the ‘things’ you have hold no intrinsic value — positive or negative. My concern is what holds your heart and binds your soul. My concern is that you are so worried about having money for retirement – you cannot live today. My concern is that you are so consumed with your own health fears – that you cannot see others’ needs. My concern is that you so want your children to be successful that you cannot appreciate who they really might be. My concern is that you are so wrapped into achieving a professional benchmark set years ago that you have lost the path to a full life today. My concern is that you are so worried about secrets of your past — or your present — that you will not let yourself be known or loved by those closest to you. These are just some of the objects of devotion that consume you…or overtake you. But, my friends (I can hear Paul continue), it does not appear that you understand that all of this will pass away and none of it has the enduring value of what I want to share. The God who made all of this creation, is the one who can provide meaning for the existence of your days. The God who has breathed life into you will sustain you through every day and every night. The God who is mother and father of all children on this earth beckons you to understand life from the perspective of gift rather than from the perspective of gain. The God who is the provider of this precious gift longs for you to know and be known. The God who raised Jesus from the dead can release you from worries and unfounded consumptions that terrorize your daily life. You have days…wonderful days of life to live…days in which a difference can be made for others…days in which the deep values of life can be celebrated…where justice and love can prevail…where mercy and joy will have reign. But these days will be known when we remember to whom we belong…to whom we have come from…to whom we have responsibility. They will not come if we continue to give allegiance to the many idols we have created from our own hands and our own imaginations. They will not come if we flit through our lives from one harried time to another. They will not come when we refuse to really live the life given to us. There is still time. Consider this week, if you will, what would be in your obituary, and what you would LIKE to have written in your obituary. And begin living THOSE days — hopefully days with God as central to your very existence…hopefully with the objects of your devotion not being those ‘things’ you have created…but values that give life…values that provide mercy…values that generate love and joy…values that are of God and God’s presence and dream for your life. SW |
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