The Game of Life
October 23 , 2005
Mark 10:28-31
James 4:13-17
I have to come out. I have to come out today and let you know, I love the Bible. We’ve been talking a lot lately about the Bible in our affinity groups, in the adult Sunday School classes and as suspicious as folks are in this community about the Post Easter Jesus we have some pretty high angst and revulsion with this book. But, I have to confess, I love it. I love it, the stories in it and the complexities that they present. I love that it’s messy and not always clean cut. I love seeing myself and our contemporary world within the pages which describe ancient communities of long ago. I love dismantling the stories to find out who they were written by, when and what historical context they were settled within. I can honestly say, I would not be the person I am today without knowing the stories embedded in this book. Stories like the ones for today, that push me beyond my personal experience, and inspire living my life differently beginning today. It’s true, some have used it to abuse. It’s true some have interpreted it to hate. But, for me, it’s a thread that connects me to people who came long ago and are still somehow my own. It tells me a bit about how to be and what to do next. Today’s passages are a good example.
We are a people who are always asking what’s in it for us? What will we get for all of this hassle? This includes questions about our faith. If we’re going to rock the boat, swim against the dominant culture and in fact attempt to dismantle it, what’s in it for us? Particularly, since we are part of the dominant culture and reap the rewards of cars, homes, vacations why should we want to dismantle it? Peter, in this ancient story for today says the same thing. “Hey, we’ve left our families and given away all of our stuff, what’s in this for us?” And, Jesus reminds. Friends, this community is different from any family you’ve ever been a part of before. Look around, and this is where it is interesting. Mark has Jesus listing the usual family members in the first list. However, in the second a major player is missing…Anyone catch it? Yes! Father is missing. Mark, the gospel, the ancient text, actually works its entire length to work at dismantling patriarchy in order that it is replaced with service. That our work with God and in the image of God is one of mutual respect and honor. That all gifts are accepted as wonderful not some better than others. Mark reminds, this community you’ve all chosen to be with honors children as much as fathers. It’s a new way of ordering ourselves: not in our number of years, not in how much stuff we own, not in how much money we have, not in plans for the future but instead we order community by being open to all members and each of their special gifts. This community affords us an opportunity to see the world differently. To challenge: race, class, marital status, economic status, and instead this community values and accepts one another as gifted and needed members of our community of faith. Jesus’ words in today’s story remind us that this community is a different kind of family with deep bonds between us. The time we spend working on growing our faith pays off right here in the living in community today. When you need help, it’s here, with no cost. With no need to explain, it’s just here. When depression comes to your house, it’s the place you can bring it to share. When you tell the truth about where you are and how you feel, love, understanding and compassion are showered upon you. When you tell the truth people listen and then share their truth with you. And, it doesn’t matter who's the parent, or who's the child…All are equal and important in this challenge to live differently.
This community is the kind of place that offers discovery of your own gifts. So when some of you dream of a garden, the rest of us ask, what do you need to make it happen? And, we ask in the community, who else is interested. Then, yesterday Americorp Volunteers organize the Tucson youth volunteers, the neighborhood, our community of faith and clean up a wash, the area where the kids jump their bikes and get our garden started. We even got a few new trees, a brand new, $1,000 irrigation system donated to us. Another focus group dream come true. When we live in community anyone’s dreams, visions, hopes can come true.
You know, I attended the Clergy Retreat for UCC clergy in the Southwest Conference on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week. When we gather we talk a lot about our calls, our work, our communities. And, I always leave those conversations so incredibly grateful for all of you. It is so important to me to live here, in this moment, in this context. And, I would suffocate waiting until we had enough people, were more financially stable, had more children and youth…I’m so grateful that we have just begun. That we’ve stretched and tried something new, we’ve begun to learn the importance of living each day and finding God within those everyday moments. I’m so glad that we are interested and focused and figuring who God is to us and what that has to do with how we make decisions and live our lives. This community is a gift, it is a blessing to live with you and I thank you for the privilege of sharing this living with you.
I had the honor of working with one of the affinity groups this week. We were talking about the story from 2 Kings, the Shunammite woman. The story of the woman who built a room onto her house for a Holy man. She made space within her life for the Holy to dwell. She breathed life into the dead places and allowed the Spirit to do a new thing. I can not read that story without thinking about this community of faith. Finding a call was absolutely the hardest thing I’ve ever done. So many interviews, so many people, so many trips, and a decade of work it seemed impossible and often overwhelming. Each time a connection was possible hope bloomed and each time it failed, felt like a piece of me died. I knew in time it would happen, but the length of searching seemed cruel and punishing. The moment this call happened it breathed new life into that place of death. Looking back a year and a half later I can not believe the depth of love, kindness and possibility that lies in that place. Hope exploded and healed a deep wound. And, when I get into those dialogues about what’s happening here, I see your faces. And, it is in your faces that I see God. Each one of you that has come into this place seeking, doubting, needing, wanting, hoping, healing, hurting, loving. You are a phenomenal people and I am so proud of the work we are doing here, of the possibilities you are making a reality. Of the acceptance of one another and the bonds you are making with one another reflecting the witness of Jesus in relation to all of God’s people.
And James steps in here to remind us to not miss this moment. For this may be our last, today. When we spend all of our time planning for this weekend, this Christmas, this spring, next summer, in five years, when I retire we are stepping into God’s business. Our work is to savor the sacred gift of life, today. Here today. The good news is that no matter where you’ve come from, where you’ve been, what you’ve done, what you’re going to do, God loves you and you’re welcome here. But, that’s just the first step. The second step is that you are also called. Called to live into your loved, gifted, created self. Called to figure out what it is that you do well. And, called to share that gift with the community of faith. In the exchange of sharing your gift today, we become transformed. Your truths change me. My truths change you. And, this day is a gift, so we must hear the call to begin today, to seize today, to share mutually in order that we might deepen the bonds of community beginning today. We’re doing something here, telling the truth, getting to know one another, talking about who and what we are, seeking that Source of Life, that constant companion, that God presence within. And, today, we proclaim, we are beginning to live more fully into each of our own, unique calls and we will not treat this living as a game. Let us pray.