Loading...It was just when we thought we were coming close to the end!
And, as my sister would say, “WHUMP!”
Tamara and I were out hiking on Deer Island in Acadia National Park in Maine.
It was beautiful! It was warm, but not too hot.
We were hiking faster than my parents, so we were able to forge ahead.
We were on the downhill side of the trail, and through the leafy trees, we could see the rocky shore.
And, just when we thought we were coming close to the end,
WHUMP!
The big granite steps which made up the trail were high enough that as she stepped down, Tamara twisted her knee.
And, there was great pain and grimacing.
We THOUGHT we were coming close to the end, but in point of fact, we had a ways to go.
It’s not often than 1/2 mile seems like forever, but.....
It was on that hiking trip that we discovered the useful advantages of “Butt Hiking.”
You might be familiar with this style of hiking, or can at least imagine it:
Sit on trail (in this case, aforementioned big rocks) and
scootch your way down the trail in a sitting position.
We also renamed that trail “Twisted Knee Trail”. I have no idea, to this day, what it really is called. Who cares? It’s much more memorable this way.
We made our way down and discovered an obliging picnic table where Tamara could raise her leg up to rest and —with my trusty day pack complete with the 10 Essentials — I could pull out the Ace bandage wrap and some ibuprofen.
While we waited for both my parents to catch up to us and for the ferry boat which would take us back to the mainland, we sat and watched the bay in front of us and visited with another hiker who was waiting also — a man whose name I don’t remember, but who helped us pass the time with stories about birdwatching and nature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was just when we thought we were coming to the end,
and WHUMP!
Stay home, stay healthy order is extended— And, indeed, enters into a four stage phasing in of what “normal” and “re-opening” will be like.
Many folks are not pleased. I’ve seen any number of snide, negative, even belligerent messages and texts out there in internet-land about how horrible “the government” is for making us stay inside our homes, and taking away our “liberty”.
Yet, this isn’t about politics and it sure isn’t about which politician or leader is saying this or not saying that.
As people who follow in the Way of Jesus, we start from a different place.
Rather than beginning from the perspective of “how is this affecting me?”
we ask the question, “how can I make sure that what I do not only doesn’t hurt others, but helps them as much as possible?”
Pandemics and disease and plagues have been part of human life for generations and millenia. I am not going to give you the pat answer of “and we’ve managed to survive as the human race.”
Instead, in this instance and as we look at history, let’s wonder about how followers of Jesus have responded. Or, as Mr. Rogers’s mom used to say,
“When something bad happens, look for the helpers.”
In times of disease, war, persecution, or other such disaster, people of faith have asked how they could help — actually, they haven’t necessarily asked,
they just DID what needed doing:
They tended the sick;
they offered healing for physical, emotional, and spiritual hurts;
they rebuilt houses, water systems, schools, and what else;
they sat with those who were hurting to offer comfort and solace.
Why do this?
Why have Christians (or, for that matter, anyone who is part of a faith tradition) done this — from the Justinian plagues, to the Black Death, to HIV/AIDS crisis, to our current CoVid-19 pandemic?
Maybe it is because God asked us, from the beginning,
to love one another.
Maybe it is because Jesus commanded his disciples
to lay down their lives for others
Maybe it is because love for others is at the root and core
of who we are as people of faith.
Maybe it is because, as Martin Luther notably put it
(borrowing heavily from St. Paul):
“A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.
A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”
How can you be the dutiful servant of all, subject to all?
Even though you ARE free — after all, you are forgiven by God before you even think to ask for forgiveness and you are not required to do anything
to appease God —- how are you still subject to and responsible for others?
What is it about being a follower of Jesus that calls you and invites you to serve others?
I am the Good Shepherd; the sheep hear my voice and know me.
I am the gate (in other words, Jesus is saying he protects the followers)
The Lord is my shepherd, I am not in need of anything...
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Maybe we serve others
because we already know the joy of being loved completely.
Maybe you reach out to those in need
because you know the relief of having been helped in your own need.
Maybe you tenderly care for those who hurt
because you are grateful for the love which cares for you.
And, then, of course, some of us know that we could be doing more for others but don’t — and then feel bad about it.
I remember my friend Loleta who played piano for church, took the minutes for Council (aka Vestry) meetings, but who couldn’t drive, walk very well, or even stand for any length of time. She kept telling me that she couldn’t serve other people; she couldn’t do any ministry for others. Aside from the music and minute taking, she also wrote letters to people, and made phone calls.
I also remember Bob who would volunteer to help out with a project but ended up having to cancel each time because he would feel scared of getting hurt.
Or, any one of us right now who think that we could do so much more to serve, to volunteer, to help out, but then feel overwhelmed or lost or exhausted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
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Whatever it is that you are experiencing —
illness, anxiety, fear, loss, exhaustion
joy, gratitude, compassion, love —
The Good Shepherd is with you,
with comfort and mercy and love.
Amen
