Killing the Fatted Calf

Tomorrow, my "prodigal son" returns... Well, he is not really a "prodigal".  He is not reckless or extravagant, except with his grace and ability to forgive.  Still, I have already begun to prepare the "fatted calf", in a manner of speaking.  I have bought some of his favorite snack foods.  I am searching the Internet for just the right blackberry cobbler recipe.  We will grill out hamburgers (the fatted calf, indeed!) and his father has painted a sign to welcome him home at the airport (in case he has forgotten our faces in the past three weeks).

Our son, along with two American leaders and thirteen other American youth are flying home tomorrow after spending three weeks in a Partnership Activity with youth and leaders from our partnership congregations in Germany.  This culminates three years of planning and meeting, which included the German Partners spending three weeks with us last summer.  The time together may be ending, but it is clear that the connection will be life-long, and the changes... no-- the TRANSFORMATION in these young lives cannot be measured in financial cost or time commitments.  They are forever changed because of what God has done in and through their lives.

When the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, I was in Germany, having just attending a conference on Overcoming the Decade of Violence.  The first day that the delegates from the US spent in our host homes was the day our world changed forever.  In spite of that, because of the genuine hospitality shown to us, there was never a time that I didn't know I would be fine... no matter what.

So, tomorrow, as my son (who is no prodigal... nor is he a "boy" any longer) boards the plane to come home, he brings with him the prayers and good will of new friends with whom there will be a "forever connection".  And I do not fear his safety, for I know he flies in the palm of God's hand.

Let the welcome home party begin!

The Elephant in the Room

It has been more than a year since I posted to my blog... Thank you to my brother-in-law for words of encouragement to get "back in the saddle again".

It is said that the best thing to do when there is an "elephant in the room" is to introduce it.  In this Sunday's sermon, I plan to introduce my congregation to the one that has been living with us for a while.  It's name is "FEAR".  We have several other individual elephants who accompany us from time to time:  Pride, Prejudice, Apathy...  The permanent dweller seems to be Fear.

I am well acquainted with Fear-- we are old chums since childhood.  Sometimes Fear stays at my house.  Sometimes Fear grows so large that there is scarcely room for anything or anyone else in my life.  These days, Fear can be contained pretty well, and sometimes even just sits on a shelf, forgotten.

But lately, Fear has come to dwell in our church.

There are some good reasons.  Indiana is one of the regions in a very serious drought.  Our local area has been missed by most of the rain that HAS come (and that's not much.)  I've even begun to wonder if the Weather Channel really knows where my zip code actually is, because yesterday there were periods where we had 100% chance of rain, and it's still as dry as cornmeal out there!  Our town, our county and our state have issued ordinances for the conservation of water.

On top of the drought, we can add the sad state of the economy, a lack of trust for any governmental officials, and, since 2001, a feeling that we are no longer as "safe" as we once were.  And, because the area we live in is a "dying community", that makes us, as a church, all too aware of having fewer people in the pews and fewer coins in the offering plate.  Yes, there seem to be good reasons for Fear to be spending time with us.

And yet... This week's Gospel reading from the Gospel of John tells us the familiar miracle story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  It's the only miracle story that is told in all four Gospels.  The disciples and Jesus have no food to give to the mass of people who have followed him out to a hillside.  A small boy has five barley loaves and two fish.  Jesus blesses this food, distributes it to those gathered, they eat and are "satisfied" (the Greek word used has messianic overtones and speaks of being truly filled-- spiritually and bodily, perhaps).  When they are done, there are still twelve baskets leftover.

In light of our fears, I can't help but read this passage this week and be reminded that we worship a God who PROVIDES!  All it took was one person, one small person, to share what they had, and Jesus was able to multiply it so that there was more than enough.

In this nation, most of us have far more than enough.

We lament the loss of security since 9-11, and yet, I can walk through the streets of my town and be fairly sure that I will not step on a landmine, be ambushed by snipers or assaulted in my home.   There are many places in the world where I could not do that.

We cry over the forced restrictions on water, and yet, we should be doing them anyway!  There is still water from my tap when I turn it on, and while it is not the "best water", it is at least clean.  There are many places in the world where people have to walk a mile or more to get water, and then it is often contaminated.

We lament the rising cost of food and gasoline, while our paychecks remain the same or dwindle, and yet, most of us has far more than we really NEED.

In John's Gospel, the miracle of feeding the 5000 is followed by the story of Jesus walking on water through a storm that he calms.  The disciples are terrified.  Jesus says, "Do not be afraid.  It is I."  Once the disciples invite him into the boat, IMMEDIATELY they are "on the land to which they were headed."

We worship the Risen Christ.  Can we not find words of hope in these passages, words that will, at the very least, bring that darned elephant back to a manageable size?  Can we not be like the young boy, and share what we have so that Jesus might multiply it and bless others through our gifts?  Can we not invite Christ "on board" in the midst of our storms, and IMMEDIATELY find ourselves in a better place?

Wishing you all peace.

SpiritSong