Sermon 1-6-08

Intro: Lost
This past summer, I arrived in Albuquerque to attend the writing conference I had signed up for. I had arranged to rent a car, booked my stay, and even gotten there a day early so I could adjust to the higher altitude. As I set off north to Santa Fe then on to Abiquiu, I felt excited, ready to take full advantage of the opportunity to reflect and write. I secured the rent a car, took the directions I had printed off the internet, and started driving. My hope was that I would get there before dark, so I could settle in and have a quiet dinner. All went well, until I got to a intersection which seemed to be the turn I needed to take to get to the hotel, which was off the beaten path just a bit. I had been here before, and it looked like the right place, so I turned. After about 10 minutes on the road there were other turns, and suddenly I did not know where I was. Darkness had settled in and I felt disorientated, alone, frustrated, and unsure what to do next. I tried retracing my steps, and took a different turn, all to no avail, the directions I had did not make sense anymore. I stopped at a gas station, and they were not sure where I was going either, but did give me directions, to where I still don’t know, cause I turned around and went all the way back to the road I started on. Finally, after calling the hotel several times, I found my way, about 2 hours later than I planned, tired, frustrated and upset at missing dinner.
Journey of the Wise-men
Studied the Maps
Trusted the Light


By contrast, the wise me in our scripture lesson today, took a more successful journey. They had studied the signs, poured over their maps, anticipated a star that would guide them to the new king, one they believed would be extraordinary, and the culmination of their life long work. When the day finally came when the star shown in the sky, they were ready to follow it, to see where they would go. They trusted in the light to shine the way, and as they moved closer and closer their excitement must of filled their hearts. They stopped in Jerusalem and the news they shared with Herod, filled his heart not with joy, but with fear, as with all the leaders in Jerusalem. Yet the wise men kept on their quest, either ignorant or ignoring the fear. And then they were rewarded, they had found the one who they had waited for, planned for, made the journey for, Jesus, the son of Mary.
The paid homage
And so at the end of their quest they paid homage, they offered their gifts carefully chosen, carefully given.

We start this new year of worship with the reminder of this journey because we too follow the light of Jesus. We do not know what this year will hold for us, we do not know where we will travel, what roads we will go down. There are many dangers and traps that can harm us, but there are also many joys, and treasures that await our discovery as well.
I wrote this poem back in October
Dark Places

I have been to a dark place
Where light is dim
Where my soul mourns
My mind stumbles
We have been to a dark place
where vision blurs
when our souls hurt
Our worry controlling
Life tempts us with goodness
And these moments tick on by
Leaving us caught between then and now

Music, love concern, all shine in the darkness
Hauling us back to reality
Keeping us company in blackness

Until...
The light calls, we able to push open the tomb
And thrust upward toward the Son.

The Journey of 2008
What has God called us to do?


As we begin then , this journey of 2008, I wonder what is God calling us to do and be? If we can use a word or two that will sum up what we are being asked to do, what message we are to bring to a hurting and anxious world what would this be? How can we not only follow the light, but be the light?
Henry Nouwen, “Being the Beloved”
On the advice of my wife, Linda I read a book by Henry Nouwen, a well known Catholic priest, whose books have always spoken to my questions, on Being the Beloved. This book was inspired by a friend of Nouwen’s, who was not churchy, had a skeptical approach to life, and who nevertheless found Nouwen’s approach to faith touching his soul. He challenged Nouwen to write a book “for those in the secularized society, to respond to the great spiritual hunger and thirst that exists in the countless people who walk the streets...” These were people who did not go to church, or synagogue, who had been caught up in life, and were not sure exactly what it was that was missing, but they were looking for something.

Sounds to me this is exactly what the church, our church should be focused on as well. What is our purpose for doing all that we do?
Offer Spiritual Food
To offer spiritual food to those who hunger for a more authentic, a deeper experience of life.

For Nouwen, the beginning of the journey is remind ourselves who we are, which he points out is revealed in the word, “Beloved”. When Jesus is baptized, God speaks in Matthew 3:17, “You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests”. Nouwen says, “You are my Beloved revealed the most intimate truth about all human beings, whether they belong to any particular tradition or not”. The philosophical question of whether humanity is basically good, or basically bad, has been around since the beginning of time. In theology, the question is answered in our beginning, we have been created in the image of God as beloved, in communion with our creator all of our lives.

III.
Connection with God

As a reminder of this deep connection we have with God at all times, we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion every Sunday until we begin Lent. As we begin the new year, let us own the gift of love from God. Let us ground all our actions, all our thoughts, all our being in this love. Let us celebrate the tie that binds us together with God and with one another.
Connection with one another
Story of Lucas and Sarah
Recently I was listening to a pod-cast of a radio show called, “This American Life”, this episode broadcast originally in December explored this topic of ties that bind us together by telling the story of Sarah and Lucas. Sarah was 11 years old when her oversized heart threatened her life, and had to be replaced with a new heart, a transplant. Lucas was a 11 year old, youngest son of parents who were migrant workers up in central california. He went to school, spent time with friends and when his parents were off in the fields sometimes weeks at a time, he was watched over by relatives or neighbors along with his older brother and sister. Sarah, was hospitalized for an infection that caused her to be passed over twice for possible transplants until the infection was treated and she was 100% healthy. Sarah remembered the day she was cleared of the infection, and was told there was a heart for her, she would have surgery the next day. “What a relief!” , her mom said, I couldn’t believe it. The surgery went well, and Sarah described the feeling of waking up and experiencing the ability to breath normally, “It was like I was overwhelmed with air!”
The story does not end there. Sarah’s Mom just could not shake the desire to find out what she could about the donor. Hospitals do not encourage these things because it is difficult for the donors, it is difficult for the recipients. Sarah did not want to know because she already felt mixed feelings, thankful for the second chance at life, but guilty about someone who had lost their life.
Lucas, was home alone sleeping, when a gang fight broke out in his neighborhood. His sixteen year brother was caught up in the fight, and two rival gang members came looking for him. They mistook Lucas for his brother, and shot him in his sleep. His family all felt guilty, the parents for working so far away they had not been there, his brother because it was him the gang members were after, and his sister who was out at a friends. But when they did come together, it was Lucas’ sister who convinced the family to donate the organs, it would be the only way that some good could come out of the tragic event. Reluctantly they agreed, and Sarah had her new heart. It would be months before Sarah’s family knew the circumstances, but they persisted with the little information they had and found the city, and then the school, and finally the family of Lucas, who had since moved up to Washington State to escape the violence. Sarah was very reluctant to meet the family, it was her Mom who did the work who made the trips, who sat in the desk of Lucas, at his elementary school, the teacher had kept Lucas’ belongings just as they had been for the year. And Lucas’ family was unsure they wanted to see the person who received the heart, it might just be too much for them. So for the time being, the two families went about their business. However, when the trial for the young men came, Sarah, had a change of heart, sort to speak, she decided she needed to be there to provide Maria, lucas’ mom with her support. A meeting the night before the trial was scheduled, and the families came together. When Sarah walked into the room, all the doubts, all the reluctance washed away, and Maria, and Sarah walked towards each other and hugged, and for Maria, as her head rested on Sarah’s heart, she felt the life of her son living on. The two families, one from Santa Cruz, one from Fresno, were now bound together.
What I love about this story is that it not all sugar and spice. There is drama, there is tragedy , their is imperfection. Yet in the middle of it all, love wins out. Love overcomes prejudices and fear, love overcomes obstacles and barriers. Love gives second chances.

In this year, we do not know what is ahead, but we follow the light. We do not know all the wrong turns we might take, but God leads us back. We have the opportunity to touch the hearts of all we meet this year, if we give from our hearts. We do not have to be gifted speech writers, we do not have to be brilliant wordsmiths, all we have to do is live the message: we are loved, those we meet are loved, and we are called to be the beloved community of God. We are God’s beloved, and there is nothing we can do about it!

In conclusion let me make three suggestions of how we can take care of the love God has given us
Taking care of the Love

Prayer is the RX of a healthy faith
Pray, if you have never prayed before now is the time to begin, whether you talk to God spontaneously, use written prayers, pray the psalms, start the habit of praying today! As we pray our connection to God and the call of God stays strong. We need to care for our spiritual health and prayer is the primary prescription
Worship strengthens our connection
When we worship in the next few weeks we will be praising God together, as a faith community. We are called to be in a community together with others who are following God. There is no more important act than worship, in keeping our faith vital and alive. And since we will be celebrating communion every week this will be a great way of strengthening our connection to God in worship.
Love in a way you never have before!
Find one way of loving another that is different from anything you have done before. Let you imagination go crazy! Maybe it is spending time with someone, maybe it is starting a new relationship, maybe it is loving the earth, by starting to recycle, or volunteering for a new project, what ever you do, do this with all your heart, mind and strength! This is the way we keep our love strong by loving God and our neighbors wilth all our prayers, with all our worship , with all our love. Amen




Outline

Intro: Lost
Journey of the Wise-men
Studied the Maps
Trusted the Light
The paid homage

The Journey of 2008
What has God called us to do?
Henry Nouwen, “Being the Beloved”
Offer Spiritual Food

III.
Connection with God
Connection with one another
Story of Lucas and Sarah

Taking care of the Love

Prayer is the RX of a healthy faith
Worship strengthens our connection
Love in a way you never have before!