Blog: Random Thoughts on Sunday's Sermon

--While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. (Luke 9:34)

My first time preaching on The Transfiguration I remember being captivated by the Exodus 34 story, particularly when Moses face was shining. My imagination ran wild as I thought of all the ways one could visually represent this Divine encounter in a room decorated with a million tiny shiny things; I like things/people that shimmer. Fast-forward a few years later and now I'm enamored with the cloud imagery in the Gospel passage. The times I've flown through clouds in the sky, the times when it's cloudy over the Hudson River and I can't see the George Washington Bridge because of the fog, the times when things aren't easy and it's metaphorically cloudy. Being surrounded by clouds can be disorienting.

At times life can be cloudy and it can be a bit terrifying. Instead of panicking, instead of reacting, maybe we can listen closely to the voice in the cloud and sink into our intuitive capacities that remind us to have no fear, Christ is near. I know I need that comforting reminder navigating life, maybe you do too.

I've been meditating on Sufjan Stevens's The Transfiguration in preparation for this Sunday. I think there are many times when things are cloudy and we have a difficult time seeing clearly. It's during these moments we begin to see with the intuition and we begin to listen with the spirit inside that is speaking to us, while we are in a state of confusion, "Have no fear, we draw near, the son of God is here."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JsaE2yZ1Rs

Recently I’ve noticed that our disposition toward sharing is dictated by the circumstances around which we receive something. For example, if we receive something because we believe we earned it or because of merit, we feel entitled to use it for ourselves. Whether it is a hefty bonus or a candy bar, if we earned it, we deserve it!

But notice the change in disposition if we receive something because of “dumb luck”? Whether we receive free tickets to a concert as part of a promotion or find fifty dollars on the ground, we are more apt to share it because it we didn’t do anything to earn it.

In 1 Peter, it reminds us that our abilities and resources are a gift from God: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (4:10). If we go through life believing that everything we have and everything we achieve is because of us, then we develop a hoarding mentality--our talents and possessions are to serve our purposes. However, if we see our abilities and resources as a gift from God, we develop a sharing impulse that looks for ways to share our blessings with others. 

We all know that “it is nice to share.” Perhaps we should begin each day thanking God for the good gifts God has given us, and then watch the sharing impulse grow in our midst!

February is Black History Month, when we traditionally commemorate the African-American experience by singing spirituals, slave songs, and gospel music. Spirituals often provided comfort and eased the boredom of daily tasks, with strong rhythms and ‘call and response’ style. While many spirituals were work songs and songs of comfort and hope, others were a metaphor for freedom from slavery. 

Songs like "Steal Away (to Jesus)", or "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" signaled that the coast was clear and the time to escape had come. The ‘River Jordan’ was code for the Ohio River or the Mississippi River. (taking to the water was a common strategy to throw pursuing bloodhounds off one's trail). "Follow the Drinking Gourd" referred to the Big Dipper, which pointed the way to the North Star and freedom. Here is a link to an excellent, short youtube video about this.

These songs are a testament to the power of music to instill faith and help people through bad times. Some of the spirituals this Sunday include "Ain't Got Time to Die", "Let Us Break Bread Together", and "I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me". What songs have gotten you through difficulties? 

Two great things you can give yor children: one is roots, the other is wings. -Hodding Carter

As a parent, I live in this tension of roots and wings.

Run, but don’t fall!
Wear whatever you want, but take your coat!
You can accomplish anything, but go to college first!

We want our children to feel free to flourish into the fullness of their personalities, gifts and talents. We also want our children to be safe, practical, and grounded. Fear can be both our ally and our enemy as we navigate parenthood and every stage of development. Fear is helpful when I am chopping up bites for my 18-month-old to eat. Fear is not so helpful when I am chopping up bites for my 18-year-old.

In the realm of faith and doubt, parents can be very afraid. We bring our children to the house of worship, hoping to instill an inner faith that will remain with our children through adulthood. Or perhaps we hope that our children will learn ethics, a standard of right and wrong. Or perhaps we hope that our children will embrace an ancient tradition of sacrament, regardless of what they believe about God.

For whatever reasons that you bring your children to church, there is the nagging question, what if it doesn’t work?

I long for my children to grow as followers of Christ, led by the Holy Spirit to find their callings in life. But I cannot control that. I remember a beautiful parable told in Matthew 13 about a farmer who scatters seed along the path, the rocky soil, among weeds, and finally in rich, healthy soil. The ground represents the condition of the hearer when he or she hears the good news.

This is a great parallel for families, but only if we make one distinction. Although we desire to share God’s story and God’s love with our children, we are not the sower. Jesus explains that He is the sower. He does the work. His spirit speaks to our souls. Our job as parents and adult influences is not necessarily to provide all the answers. Our role is to help our children cultivate fertile ground for hearing the good news. We tell the stories, we demonstrate love and grace and forgiveness, and we follow Christ in our everyday lives. And we hope that as our children become lovers of truth, good, and beauty, they will be inexplicably drawn to Christ, the sower.

So, if the soil looks rocky, or the path looks barren or the message just doesn’t seem to be sticking these days, don’t panic. The sower never grows weary.