“You Will Be My Witnesses” (Acts 1:1-11)

In the movie, Shall We Dance, the plot is simple.  Richard Gere plays a lawyer named John.  Susan Sarandon plays his wife Beverly.  They are a loving family.  They have been living the same life over and over again for twenty years.  Life has plateaued and John is restless . . . he feels that something is missing . . . but he cannot put his finger on it. 

Making his daily commute on the train back and forth from the city one evening he sees a beautiful woman played by Jennifer Lopez,  staring with a lost expression through the window of a dance studio.  He is haunted by her gaze.  Impulsively one evening he jumps off the train and signs up for dance lessons, hoping to meet her.  Ironically it is not the young beautiful dance instructor that becomes his teacher, but instead it is the older instructor. 

Sounds like an illicit love story doesn’t it?  And, I would have to admit, it is a love story . . . one with the potential to become an illicit affair as it titters on the nexus; but, in the end, things work out for the best for all involved as true love wins out.  The love story in the end is between Richard Gere’s character and dancing, not between him and the young dance instructor.  Surprisingly she puts him into his place right from the beginning when she tells him with ice in her voice that she hopes that he has come to the dance studio to seriously study dance and not to look for a date.

And he does. 

Richard Gere’s character falls in love with dancing.  His new obsession has him throwing himself whole-heartedly into dancing.  His goal is to dance in the big contest.  It is a time consuming process that takes him from his family . . . and, of course, his wife—Susan Sarandon—becomes suspicious.  She is thinking the worse.  She hires a private detective to find out what her husband is up to.  Upon discovering the truth, she chooses to end the investigation . . . to let things be . . . and, to not interfere with her husband’s privacy.  It is a sort of mid-life crisis.

One evening she is out with a friend and they are talking . . . talking about marriage.  Marriage is hard.  Yet, she realizes that each person involved in a marriage has a role . . . a part . . . to play.  She tells her friend: “We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."

The essence of the word “witness” is: attestation of a fact or event—testimony; one who gives evidence; one who is asked to be present at something so as to being able to testify to its having taken place; one who has personal knowledge of something.  In one of the Scriptures last references to Jesus’ resurrection at the start of the Book of Acts, Jesus calls upon his disciples to be his witness: “. . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus calls his followers to be “witnesses”.  Jesus calls his followers to take notice of his life . . . to testify to its authenticity and authority . . . to affirm that it has taken place, that it has happened . . . to give evidence to it . . . to embrace their experience of it and to acknowledge that relationship.  Jesus calls upon his followers to be witnesses.

And, then it was done.  Jesus departed before their eyes . . . ascended up into the heavens.  Thus marks the end to the Easter season of the church year . . . Jesus leaves.  Now the real work is about to begin . . . the followers of Jesus are called to be witnesses . . . witnesses “to the ends of the earth.”

On this last Sunday of Easter, on the nexus of the season Pentecost, we too are asked to step in line and become witnesses to and for Jesus.  So, where do we begin? 

Well, I believe in simplicity.  Jesus us calls us to be witnesses to him . . . to his life.  In his life Jesus lived for two things . . . two things that he challenged us to live up to: to love the Lord completely and to love our neighbors.  Jesus’ life was a life of love.  All he said, all that he did, pointed up to this act of love.  It is to this that we are to be witnesses.

speak, but more importantly through the actions that we live.  It has been said that “actions speak louder than words.”  We witness to and for Jesus in the way that we love . . . plain and simple.  We are to live our lives in love as Jesus lived his.

So, what happened in the end with John Clark?  Well, first of all I want everyone here to understand . . . God did not bless me with the ability to be a graceful dancer.  No, God blessed me with two left feet.  I am a lousy dancer.  Yet, I recognize the beauty and grace that is found in dance.  I recognize the freedom that dancing releases.  I know its power.  I see it all the time whenever my granddaughter dances with abandon and joy.  Dancing is powerful and freeing.  Oh sure, I follow the adage—especially when no one is looking and I am with my granddaughter—of dancing as if no one can see me; but, I cannot dance. 

John Clark . . . well, he learns to dance.  He doesn’t win the big contest.  In his disappointment he quits dancing . . . hangs up the shoes . . . much to the dismay of those around him.  He denies the “love” of his life and its effects upon his life . . . the way that it made him change . . . the way that it drew him into the lives of others, made him care . . . made him love again.  He throws it all away in his disappointment.

This then is where his wife steps in . . . his witness.  She shares with him all that she has observed . . . the changes that have happened in his life and the lives of others . . . the joy she saw in him as he danced . . . the joy others experienced.  She shares it all and then she leaves a pair of dancing shoes she has bought for him on the counter.

Okay . . . it is a Hollywood movie . . . good triumphs in the end.  John Clark returns to dancing . . . not for the sake of competition, but for the sake of his love for it.  The movie ends with him and his wife dancing in the kitchen.  All because someone chose to bear witness to the love that they observed.

We are called upon to bear witness of the love we have seen and experienced in our relationship with Jesus.  We are called upon to share the stories of his love in word and action.  We are called upon to share love as his followers.  We are to do it with the same compassion and passion as John Clark’s wife in the movie, Shall We Dance, when she states: ““We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."

We are called to bear witness to Jesus in our lives . . . in the lives of others . . . in the world in which we live.  Jesus will not go unnoticed because we are his witnesses.  Amen.

“To Overcome the World . . . Try Love” (I John 5:1-6)

This past week I was at a conference that was attempting to call to the table the various entities that provide services that work towards the goal of helping youth with disabilities to transition into meaningful life.  There were representatives from Vocational Rehabilitation, departments of education, the Labor Department, universities, and other specialized services created to assist these youth in this transition.  In their own right each of these groups have their own purpose and goals . . . each does their job well . . . and, they are all a part of the puzzle; yet, those puzzle pieces don’t often fit together too well to get the whole picture.  Too often they are siloed . . . too busy doing their own thing . . . .protecting their turf . . . protecting their resources and funding.  The end result is that the youth with disabilities end up with the short end of the stick.

Thus it was that all of these entities—these services—were called to the table and challenged to collaborate . . . to work together . . . to ensure that these youth with disabilities succeeded in having a good and productive life.  A simple task . . . right?  In theory it sounds easy—to create one seamless system of those charged to assist these youth through this life transition.  Well, trust me when I say that it is easier said than done.

The conference is in its ninth year.  Every year it gets a little closer . . . but they are still a long way from succeeding.

Such a simple idea . . . collaborate.  Over the three days of the conference we heard that message over and over again.  These were good people with good intentions . . . so why was this idea of collaboration taking so long to be a reality?  Think about it.

Now I want to shift gears . . . the charge of Jesus was simple:  establish the Kingdom of God.  Here we are this morning—over two thousand years later . . . have any of you seen the Kingdom of God yet?  Why not?  It is a pretty simple idea—to love God, to love others—to establish the Kingdom of God.  Over those two thousand plus years there have been a whole lot of good people with good intentions . . . even today there are a whole lot of people with good intentions . . . so why aren’t we in the midst of God’s Kingdom?  Why isn’t it a reality?  Think about that.

One of the speakers at the conference used a phrase that I had never heard before, but I really liked.  She said, “Spray and pray.”  She used that phrase to sum up what happens at most conferences . . . the information and researched is put out there by the speakers . . . and the hope is that the listeners will grasp it and do something.  In that phrase I think there is a clue to both the dilemma of those gathered to work for collaboration and those called to establish God’s Kingdom.  As a pastor . . . at least on Sunday mornings . . . it is my job to do the “spraying and praying”.  I put it out there and then hope like crazy that something sticks . . . that something strikes a cord . . . that something makes a difference . . . to promote change.  And guess what . . . the “spraying and praying” ain’t working.  If it were working we’d all be there by now.

Whether we are talking about collaboration that makes the life of students with disabilities better or about establishing the Kingdom of God we are stuck in the “spray and pray” mode.  We get it.  We understand it.  We have it solidly planted in our minds.  But it is not working.  Why?  Because it has not moved from here (the head) to here (the heart). 

After nine years, why hasn’t the idea of collaboration worked with those organizations working towards creating a seamless transition for youth with disabilities?  After more than two thousand years with millions of Christians working towards creating the Kingdom of God . . . why hasn’t it worked?  Because the focus is in the wrong place.  For collaboration to work among services working to help youth with disabilities they have to quit focusing on the process and learn to focus on the individual.  It is no different for those who follow Jesus and rise up to meet the challenge of establishing God’s Kingdom.

In the world of service providers they call this process one that focuses on respect, equality, dignity, acceptance, openness, listening, and building a relationship with the one that they are serving.  Some might call that “love”, but in the service world funded by governmental monies from both the Federal and state . . . such a word is not allowable.  But that is what will bring about collaboration . . . love.  And, that is what Jesus said would accomplish the goal of establishing the Kingdom of God . . . love.

Love.

The writer of our reading this morning states:

• ·        First, the writer proclaims that only the love of God will overcome the world.  “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is that overcomes the world?”

• ·        Second, the writer tells us that the “who” are those who believe:  “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well . . . only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

• ·        But, the writer also warns that it not mere “belief” that wins over the world; no, it is more than “belief” . . . it is action: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  This is the love of God: to obey his commands.”

• ·        With love the world is overcome . . . “And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

“Love.”

Love is not an idea or concept that floats around out there in space . . . it is an action . . . it is a verb . . . it is doing something.  Jesus calls all of his followers to “love”.  To love God . . . to love one another.  If this is done the world is overcome . . . the kingdom is established.  And, who among us does not embrace the idea of love?  Who among us doesn’t shout “Amen!” when the preacher is “spraying and praying”?

Well, it begins with a simple journey from here (the head) to here (the heart).  When the heart is involved things get done.  Things get done because we have moved beyond the mind and it thoughts into an area where the Spirit lives . . . the Spirit that prompts us . . . prods us . . . cheers us on . . . and, makes us move into action.  When we think with the heart things begin to happen.  They begin to happen because we have invested ourselves in that which the heart has embrace . . . in that which “love” believes in.  We have moved beyond the theory into the area of practice.  Until then it is nothing more than lip service . . . nothing more than “spray and pray”.

The writer of our reading this morning tells us that we have the ability to “overcome the world” . . . the ability to establish the Kingdom of God.  The writer tells us that it is quite simple . . . love.  Love God, love one another.  If we do this then we succeed in doing what Jesus challenged us to do.  All we have to do is to love.  As the followers of Jesus we have done well in listening and affirming this idea of “love” . . . we can do it with the best of them; yet, we know that something is missing because we just haven’t quite made it all the way there yet.

It has been stated that the toughest step of any journey in life is the first step.  I think that that is true when it comes to this idea of “love” . . . that first step from here (the head) to here (the heart) is the most difficult one to take.  May God help us to remove the barriers that keep us from moving into love.  We can overcome . . . love.  Love is the answer.  Jesus knew it.  Jesus calls to it.  Amen.  

“Love Ya, But . . .” (I John 4:7-21)

Recently I read a short story from the book, Spider Woman’s Granddaughters, which is a collection of traditional tales and contemporary writing by Native American women.  The particular story was by E. Pauline Johnson and titled As It Was in the Beginning written in the early 1900s.  She is of the Mohawk tribe out of Canada.  In this story she tells of a young child who witnesses the visit of a stranger to her parents’ teepee . . . “He wore a long black coat, which I now know was the sign of his office, and he carried a black leather-covered book, which, in all the years I have known him, I have seen him without.”

The Anglican priest and her father soon become friends despite the reluctance of her mother to embrace the man or his intentions.  He convinces the writer’s father that the best chance for his daughter and the tribe’s future generations is to allow him to take her to his boarding school to be re-educated in the ways of the white people.  Against the mother’s protest the father allows the priest to take the girl.  Thus begins the story . . . one the Anglican priest would call a “love story”, and the writer would call a story of betrayal and false love.

The girl is raised in the boarding school embracing the ways and education of the white people . . . her past and traditions are buried in the closet of her room in a small bundle of that once was her bison dress.  In the best tradition of the times, Richard Henry Pratt—one of the original originators of Indian boarding schools in the United States, espoused the philosophy of “Kill the Indian and save the man.”  Such was the experience of this young girl; but, of course, the priest would tell you it was all done in the act of love.

The girl becomes the favorite of the priest and is accorded a place—more or less—in the priest’s family.  As she grows up she befriends the priest’s nephew—a handsome and blond young man.  They become the best of friends over the years until one day they recognize that they are in love.  The young man proposes marriage and they begin making plans for their future together. 

Later, that evening, the young man shares the news with his uncle . . . a conversation that the girl overhears.  The priest tells his nephew that it cannot be . . . he cannot marry “one of those” . . . that it would destroy the young man’s future.  He tells his nephew to go away for a while and forget the girl, then come back and marry a proper and dignified young woman . . . someone like himself.  And, the young man agrees to the suggestion of the older man.  All the while, the girl is hearing the whole conversation much to her disbelief . . . she is crushed in the betrayal by her true love and by the man who treated as if she was one of his own . . . betrayal based on the fact that she is Indian.  That is all that they see.

Yet, as she states at the start of the story . . . “They account for it by the fact that I am a Redskin, but I am something else, too—I am a woman.”  Betrayed and crushed in who she is as a person . . . betrayed and crushed in her love . . . she remembers something that her mother had given her as she left with the priest—an arrow tip that had been dipped in poison.  A gift meant to be a way out if the boarding school became too much . . . she was to use it to take her own life.  But she never did, though it suddenly came to her mind.  She runs to the closet and finds her bundle . . . finds the arrowhead . . . and, then, slips down into the room where her true love lies sleeping.  If she cannot have him, no one can.  She gently cuts the sleeping man with the arrowhead and leaves.  She returns to her parents, to her people, never to return.  The young man dies in his sleep.

They suspect the girl, but can prove nothing.  She ends the story with these words: “They account for it by the fact that I am a Redskin.  They seem to have forgotten I am a woman.”

And, a child of God.

Plain and simple, the message this girl received from the priest and her supposed true love was: “Love ya, but . . .”  In what the priest was declaring an act of love was a whole bunch of conditions . . . in the end she was not loved as a child of God or even for herself . . . she could never be embraced and fully welcomed into the family because she was one of “them”.

The writer of our reading this morning states: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love . . . God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him . . . if anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar . . . And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

There are no strings attached to the love of God . . . God loves all.  God loves each and every one of us for who God created us to be . . . there are no “if, ands, or buts” to God’s love.  All are welcome into the family of God . . . all have a place at the table.  And, so it is for those of us who proclaim a love for God . . . a love demonstrated and lived by Jesus himself.  We are to love as God has loved us . . . a love shown to us in the life of our savior Jesus. 

This is something easier said than done.  We all get trapped by our words and actions when it comes to “love”.  We all do.  As I look about the world in which we live there seems to be a lot of animosity and hatred out there.  I have seen in the past year a whole lot being written about the incongruency between the words that are spoken and the actions that are taken or not taken when it comes to this idea of “love” . . . especially love from those who call themselves the followers of Jesus.  It is true that love is being proclaimed . . . proclaimed with a footnote . . . “Yeah, we love you, but . . .”

But . . . you are not like us.  You are not my race.  You are not my gender.  You are not my political party.  You are not age.  You are not in my tax bracket.  You are not of my religion.  And on and on come the “buts” . . . is this “love”?  Is this what the writer of our reading this morning is talking about when telling us that we need to “love”? 

Here is where the “church” . . . the “big church” . . . is damned.  The “church” stands for “love”—God’s love . . . a love demonstrated to us and the whole world in the presence and being and life of Jesus.  A love that goes beyond mere words but into action . . . action that even moves to the point of giving one’s life for another.  Such is the love that our morning reading calls us to; yet, we have a difficult time embracing it without putting in our stipulations . . . our “buts”.  Trust me, people notice . . . God notices.

I think that we all long to know such love as shared by the writer of our reading this morning.  I think that we all long to love in such a way.  I think that we all want to love one another.  Yet, we realize that it is hard to let go and really love another . . . it is scary . . . we might get burned . . . we might get hurt.  If that is the case then let us hear the writer’s words once again: “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  The man who fears is not made in perfect love . . . We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

It seems that we have forgotten . . . forgotten that we are many things, but we are also the children of God . . . created in the image of God.  We are called to love.  There are no “if, ands, or buts” to God’s love.  Amen.