We often talk about life as a journey…a road we travel from birth to death…and I wonder…what is your journey like these days?
If you could compare it to something, what would it be? Are you flying down a mountain on a bicycle…terrified that you might lose control …or maybe exhilarated by the sheer speed? Or are you staggering through sand in the scorching desert heat…dehydrated…close to collapsing? Or maybe you are peacefully strolling on a shady trail through the woods? Or do you feel like you are straining to make it to the end of a marathon race…chest burning, legs aching? Or are you just slowly slogging through mud? Or maybe you are walking down the same road again and again, not paying attention to the same scenery you see day after day after day? Or maybe …maybe you are just feeling your way around in the dark, trying to find the light switch?
We have a lot of “journey” stories in the Bible — stories of people like us, making their way through life…ordinary people whose paths take them through all sorts of varied terrains. Today, we got to hear a snippet from Elijah’s story.
Elijah…is exhausted. His life has been chaotic. He has been challenging the corruption rampant in his nation — standing up to a king and queen who have ruled with gross injustice…who care for only themselves and not God’s people — and at this point, he is public enemy number one. They want him gone…dead. And Elijah has fled for his life…and right now, he is done. He is at the end of his rope…he is ready to give up. And his only prayer is “Lord, let me die.”
And for many people…that is not an unfamiliar place on life’s journey. Life can be hard. It can feel overwhelming at times — the magnitude of all that is wrong. There are times, we simply don’t have the will to keep going. And we want to curl up under a broom tree and wait for it all to be over.
But I love what happened to Elijah on his journey. An angel found him there, under the broom tree. An angel…who touched him. Who gave him water to drink and baked him a cake. Who gently reminded him to eat….and then let him rest, only to do it all over again.
An angel met Elijah along the way, and reminded him that God was good…and that he was not alone.
And I think that is the way God meets us on our journeys as well. There is no promise in Scripture, anywhere...that life will be easy. There is no promise that we will not know grief and pain, struggle and exhaustion. But there is a promise that as we walk our journey, we are never alone. God is with us. And angels will meet us along the way. An angel is God’s messenger — and usually those messengers come to us in the form of ordinary folks — who may be neighbors, friends or strangers. God sends ordinary angels to us along the journey….who touch us…who hold our hand or maybe rest a hand on our back…to remind us that we are not alone. And who sometimes even bake us a cake — people who not only seem to know what we need, and give it to us…but who even surprise us with a bit of sweetness.
I have known so many angels in my life…many in this room and hundreds more over the years…who have been there for me under the broom trees. People who have reminded me that life is good, when all that is wrong seems overwhelming.
I believe you have known those people as well. So, who has been there for you, with a touch…or with a bit of sweetness …a bit of kindness…when you were ready to give up?
They are God’s angels…God’s messengers…reminding us that we are not alone…that life is good…that God is good. It happens all the time.
It happens when friends call. It happens when strangers offer a helping hand. It happens when people say kind things, reminding others of the good they see in them…when people thank one another for the work they do. It happens when the people behind you in line smile…and tell you it’s no problem, they’ve been there too .. when you get to the cashier and ring up your groceries and you suddenly can’t find your credit card, and you’re digging through your purse, red with embarrassment…or don’t have enough money…or grabbed the wrong thing, and the courtesy clerk has to run back to exchange it for you…and you feel like it’s just the last straw. I’ve seen angels show up then…right there in the grocery store line. I’ve also seen angels show up in daycares and hospital rooms, in parks and shopping malls…I’ve seen them in schools and restaurants, in offices and homes. Angels show up…everywhere.
The last couple weeks, the girls and I have started watching a series on Netflix called Doctor Blake. In it, Dr. Blake voices his struggle with God, for not showing up. For not listening, not caring…. when a priest starts losing his mind to dementia, or when his own mother died. He ends by asking what kind of father ignores their children when they are begging for help? And Blake tells God, that HE can’t ….and he won’t.
But…here’s the thing. I believe that when we hear our neighbor’s pain — when we care — when we show compassion — when we are kind….WE are the presence of God for one another. We are God’s messengers, God’s angels — giving one another the strength we need to continue on. We bear witness to the God who does care. The God who created us in love…to be love for one another. We are extensions of God’s heart and presence…persevering in the midst of all that is wrong in the world. We are the good news of God in this world …showing up for one another. We are the reminder that life, ultimately is good…that God is good.
Dr. Blake, in refusing to ignore the hurt of his community…becomes God’s messenger, whether he realizes it or not. Just as he has been at the receiving end of God’s messengers in his life — whether he realized it or not… those who are kind to him, even when his is brash and hard to take at times. Those who have been patient with him. Those who have acknowledged his grief…who have offered a hand…who have baked him cake.
The persistence of compassion and kindness…forgiveness and generosity…lived out by ordinary angels in this world… is the witness of God’s presence in the world. The persistence of organizations like World Hunger and World Vision, Lutheran World Relief and Church World Service and so many others ..who bring food to the hungry, education to those in poverty, agricultural assistance and wells to communities and aid in the times of disasters — the persistence of food banks and doctors without borders and refugee services — the persistence prison volunteers and school volunteers and hospice volunteers — the persistence of love in the face of hate…acceptance in the face of rejection…hope in the face of fear…kindness in the face of cruelty…this is witness to God’s presence in the world. This is the work of God’s messengers — God’s angels in our midst.
We are imitators of Christ for one another when we realize that we are members of one another. We are imitators of Christ when we care for others, no matter who they may be….because they are part of our family. When we realize they also are children of God…who are begging for help. Who need a touch of kindness along the way …some water ….a little cake.
This morning, we are angels for one another along our journeys…as we touch one another, sharing the peace — as we encourage one another — as we offer each other a little cake, with our coffee. We come here, to receive the life-giving presence of God, and we are not ignored. Here…we are known. We are loved. We can rest under the broom tree for a bit and be refreshed for whatever lies ahead. And we can be reminded…that life is good. And that God IS good. In the face of all that is not good….God is good.
All the time. All the time. God is good. Amen.
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