Epworth United Methodist Church

Pentecost Proclamation
July 19, 2009,
Epworth UMC,
Portland, Oregon.
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 and Ephesians 2:17-22

Coming Away or Coming Apart

INTRODUCTION: Even though the focus of my thoughts today will be on Jesus’ emphasis to get away from it all, I want to highlight another part of the text. This has to do with Jesus’ enduring compassion for all, and his examples to the disciples about how to make compassion alive, real, relevant, and without judgments. The compassion of Jesus stands out as the most remarkable feature in these 2 brief summaries of the Galilean ministry.

Jesus had no intention of ever dividing people into categories. The us versus them mindset was foreign to him. We in the United Methodist Church say that we have “open doors, open hearts, and open minds.” I’m sure I wouldn’t have to interview some of you long before I heard, “that open, open, open statement is our intention. It is our goal. But sadly in some areas that openness is merely a dream yet to be realized.” One need only read some of the reports from our UMC General Conference 2008 to see that huge divisions of thought, theology and practice still exist. Shame on us! We may have much to atone for one day! And just wait for the 2012 conference. Sides are already sharply drawn; each side sure that they are right. Our prayer should be that mercy and justice prevail.

In the setting today, Jesus and the disciples have been at the healing and teaching ministry almost non-stop. Crowds found ways of finding Jesus even as he attempted to find some restful balance for himself and for the disciples. They are tired, hungry and no doubt badly in need of a dip in some lake or river.

In this text, Jesus seems to be calling to us to be still and know when enough activity is enough. This passage lifts up the issues of our reactions to our own ministries, and remembers here that every baptized Christian is a minister. The press of needs especially in our ultra-electronic age will always be there. Some of us can be reached 24/7 through phone, email, text messages, twitter, (whatever that is) pagers and Blackberries. There is something to be said for availability but it omits the issue of balance in our lives.

Just one Biblical reference from one of the creation myths. Recall that God made the universe and its inhabitants in six days. We are told in this story that God rested on the 7th day. In most American mindsets, we think of that 7th day as just being tacked on after the really important work was done. Not so. The 7th day, the Sabbath was an integral part of the whole creation. Our rhythm of work and rest is integral to our being co-creators with Divine in our day.

There was a saying by the late. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle, but I just wish God didn’t trust me so much. “ The disciples of old are eager to share their ministries with Jesus and understandably so. Yet Jesus’ response seems to ignore their reports in preference of a much needed retreat.

PRAYER: Gracious Working and Resting God, may we hear this morning the words and meanings you intend for each of us. Put holes in our false preconceptions about the glory of work without rest. Teach us that intentional rest is not laziness, but rather a re-fueling of our energies so that we can be more effective workers in your Kingdom, the Kingdom that is already here and is yet to come. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Make your voice heard in our inner beings. AMEN.

PROCLAMATION: In the yoga tree pose you saw me demonstrate for our children, is an example of the benefits of physical balance. With advancing age, most of us lose a certain amount of balance we had naturally as children and youngsters. It is even important to learn balance with our eyes closed. Try the tree pose with your eyes closed. When you become good at this, the core of your balance will be readily there for you when imbalance threatens.

In yoga we learn about propreoception. This sense can be developed. It is known as “the ability to sense stimuli arising within the body. Even with eyes shut, you can know thro propreoception exactly where all of your body parts are, including the inner core of balance.

Just a physical balance is vital, so is spiritual balance for today’s Christian. Our culture would deny that balance, as work and even over-work are glorified in the USA. It is a challenge to answer the question, to what degree does my work, my career, even my retirement living define who I am. I was “caught” recently in a place of imbalance in regard to the family trip I’m taking to Hawaii this December. Early this year as my investments dwindled, I was haunted by the thought of just cancelling the whole thing, or at least postponing it until the market was stronger. A wise neighbor heard my thinking and said words I’ll never forget. “Patricia, how many 90 year olds do you know who say, ‘I surely am glad I didn’t go to Hawaii in 2009.’?”

It seems clear to me from the text that Jesus’ urging renewal was intentional. He did not say, “Look you 12, when all the feeding and healing and teaching are done, THEN you can go rest.” No, Jesus knew human limitations and that the disciples could only be effective if they had intentional rest. Some of us have an internal clue that signals us when we have given too much of ourselves away. Sadly, some of humankind does not.

Never shall I forget the suicidal death of one of my Indiana clergy brothers right after I graduated from seminary. A note was left that said, “Everyone wants a piece of me. There is just not enough to go around.” You may be saying, well, that is indeed an extreme example. Perhaps so, but the young pastor didn’t get to the point of making such a tragic choice overnight.

You may also be thinking, but what of all the interruptions and even emergencies that my life may bring? Those were considered by Jesus also. The text clearly indicates that their time of rest and prayer were severely compromised by the press of the needy crowds. But sometimes we allow other’s emergencies to become our call to rescue. Again, discernment and wisdom must be in place.

What are the benefits of a balanced life? For starters, we can regain focus and physical strength. Our relationships can enjoy the freedom of give and take when we are not so full of frenzy. Mentally we are more alert. We pay attention to right eating and sleeping patterns. We make time in our day just to sit and listen for the still, small voice of God within. Another plus to the balanced life is an ability to say “no” to requests from others. If we don’t know the power of the NO, how will we ever experience the liberation of the YES?

Setting and keeping boundaries is a key element also in the balanced life. When serving two rural parishes in Indiana as part of my seminary training, I told my mentor of the myriad number of “to-do lists” the two congregations had given me. I was initially distraught at how I was going to get all these tasks done, in addition to carrying a full academic load.

My wise mentor talked to me about limiting my number of Yes’s to the people. He suggested saying, “You have asked me to do 5 things. I can only do 3. Which 3 do you choose?” That advice has come in as a life saver in my 20 years since seminary graduation!

When our own personal boundaries are not firm, it allows, even invites people to take advantage of us. They do not know our boundaries and we have not made them clear. And so we come like a huge balloon of fluid just waiting to be punched from all sides, and then resenting those who have unknowingly violated our boundaries.

There is an unwritten “law” in this culture that says that doing, doing, and more doing is a virtue. But Jesus serves notice that doing so may b e knee-jerk ministry instead of knee-bent response. Knee-jerk ministry is often not well thought out. Knee-bent ministry is grounded in the study of Scripture, prayer, the Sacraments, and the wise fellowship in one’s community of faith. Knee-jerk living tries to be all things to all people. We are like the chameleon that landed on a piece of plaid.

My encouragement is for all of us to listen to God. Listen to the wisdom of your best self. Love yourself appropriately, for how can be of service to anyone if we do not honor and love our own being?

The late Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman of Boston Theological Seminary wrote, “Failing to listen to the sound of the genuine in ourselves is to render ourselves as always on the ends of strings being pulled by someone else. Taking, making time for renewal refreshes us and gives us a sense of who we are and whose we are. When Jesus urged the disciples to “Come, let’s go to a deserted place all by ourselves and rest awhile,” he was saying that the balanced life pleasing to God, and ultimately is valuable to those we seek to serve.”

Eternal God, we thank you for pause and reflection. We thank you for the example of Jesus who took opportunities to get away, to reflect, to recharge, to seek power from you, his Source. God please assist us to make our days ones of intentional balance. Remind us again that you are the Creator and we are your creatures. Enable us to be fit channels of blessing. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who shows us what a non-anxious presence is like. AMEN.