Loading...Out here in the West,
we seem to have that whole “rugged individualism” thing down –
even more than the rest of the country.
And we, as a nation, seem to function with that “can-do”,
“pull yourself up by your bootstraps” attitude.
Or, we like to think that’s how we operate.
This past week, Alex and I went to a hot springs spot in Montana.
This is a place the locals go to as well, and as we were sitting in the hot water – basting away in the 106° water—we overheard a number of fascinating conversations (not that we were eavesdropping intentionally; it’s just hard NOT to overhear what folks are saying when you’re all in a hot springs pool together!).
I think my favorite conversation was the one about the bear,
as told by an older, fierce woman with a raspy voice who seemed to me the epitome of a pioneer Montana woman:
One night she woke up to some noises outside. She got up to look as she saw outside her living room window (on the deck or in the yard) what she thought was a large, broad-shouldered man. She started yelling and pounding on the window to scare him off when suddenly she realized that that was no man – that was a bear! A bear who came at her front door and slammed into it. Twice. She kept beating on the window and yelling; finally the bear lumbered off.
The next morning, she checked her door. It was dented, but still holding. She mentioned that she was grateful that she’d locked the door that night, as the deadbolt helped the door to stay shut under all that pressure. Then she and a neighbor went to check on another neighbor’s house (a house that is used as a summer cabin and is not yet occupied for the season). When they got there, they discovered that the door had been ripped off of its hinges and the house was vandalized. By that same bear.
Phew! What a dramatic story!
I also noticed two other things about it, though.
First of all, it had the tough Montana pioneer woman, and that same woman was reliant upon and connected to her neighbors.
These folks are not independent! They’re interdependent!
Yes, this tough, do-it-yourself woman yelled off a bear, but she also needs and cares for her neighbors.
The rugged individualist who makes it on his/her own is a lie.
We are not created that way.
We are not created to do-it-ourselves.
We are created for community.
We are created for interdependence.
We are created for one another.
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On Jesus’ last night with his disciples, according to John’s Gospel,
he had a special meal with them,
teaches them through actions and words,
and then he prays for them.
The prayer that Jesus offers to God for his disciples is recorded in chapter 17 of John’s Gospel – from which today’s gospel text is taken.
It’s a bit turned over on itself and it spirals around making it hard to keep track of.
But what Jesus is getting at is that his disciples –
not just the 12, but all of his disciples, including us, all people who follow in his Way of life – are precious to both Jesus and to God.
He also makes it clear that we are made/created to be there for one another.
We aren’t alone:
we have each other and
we have the love of God with us.
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Last Thursday was Ascension Day: 40 days after Easter.
It’s the day we read the story that has been transferred to today’s first reading – Jesus “ascending” to God, his Father.
As he goes, the promise is given that we will not be alone,
an Advocate and Helper will be given. But, in the meantime, we have each other and we have a job to do, as those first disciples are reminded!
Yet, there is this odd, 10 day waiting period. At least, we’ve made it into 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost; between Jesus going away and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Advocate.
What do we do when we’re in those odd, in-between times?
The two angels in dazzling white in the Acts story remind us:
Go to work! You have things to do!
Jesus’ prayer to his disciples reminds us:
Do not be afraid. Help one another.
And the tough, Montana frontier-folk give us the model of interdependence as the way of life.
The truth is, there is always work to be done
forgiving caring
loving making the world more beautiful
serving teaching, etc.
But, there’s also a time to wait to see what God is up to and to watch with our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in faith to see how God is using us to love and serve; to care for one another (even when the bears are breaking down doors!).
This is the interdependence and
Way of life to which Jesus calls us:
reflecting the life-giving love that God has for each of you
through your words and actions,
your rest and prayer,
your forgiveness and love,
your life in Christ.
Amen
