Just Show Up!

by | Sep 1, 2024

 

  1. The last time that I preached I talked about an ancient Jewish ritual where you enter the Temple and walk to the right if you are feeling pretty good.
    1. But if you are heartbroken, you enter on the left The Rev. Suzanne Trump, Associate Pastor of Formation and Compassionand walk face those who are doing ok
    2. When they encounter the brokenhearted they stop to listen to their story and offer them a blessing before moving on
    3. After worship a member of the congregation told me that Rabbi Sharon Brous had written a book detailing this ritual
    4. The book, The Amen Effect, and of course, I purchased it as soon as I could
    5. And indeed, I highly recommend this book to all of you
    6. It is the type of book that you need to read and ponder, not just read it as fast as you can
    7. This book continues to speak to me in many and various ways
  2. I am trying to find hope and peace as the election process heats up
    1. While I will never tell you who to vote for, I will wholeheartedly tell you to cast your vote
    2. It is your civic duty
    3. And every vote counts
    4. As a Lutheran, I take my lead from Martin Luther who reminded us that if was necessary for good government to function for the good of society, for ALL people
    5. So, we are called to vote
    6. And certainly, the first step in voting, after you are registered to vote is to educate yourself on each candidate, what do they stand for, what is their platform, how would they serve if elected
    7. And at the same time, I admit that I am already weary of gathering all the postcards and mailers from my mailbox and unceremoniously placing them in the recycling can
    8. It really doesn’t even matter if it is a candidate I support
    9. The mailers are just a waste of resources and time
    10. And more often than not today they are negative attacks on their opponent
    11. And usually taken out of context
    12. Geeze, give me patience as it is only September 1st!
    13. Trying to have hope while preparing for upcoming elections is really hard
    14. But as Lindsey told us a couple weeks ago, this isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon
    15. And we are called to run this race
    16. For the benefit of our community
  • I think that is why I am drawn to Paul’s letter to the Philippines
    1. He is grateful for the support they have given him
    2. And as he writes he is a prisoner
    3. And still writes with joy
    4. How does he run this race, with gratitude and joy?
    5. Paul in in prison and the community to whom he is writing is under pressure
    6. Finances are strained, socially they are under duress
    7. It is not a good situation for either Paul or the community
    8. It isn’t a good situation for us either
    9. And Paul is being encouraged to give it up
    10. Stop preaching against the Roman rulers
    11. Stop preaching the message of Jesus
    12. Just give it up
    13. As Professor Jane Paterson Lancaster says in her commentary of this passage: This is the kind of message that inspired Martin Luther King Jr.’s own “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” words written to strengthen a community under siege for their proclamation of God’s justice and concern for all
  1. Paul is giving the Philippines and us a message of encouragement to continue in faith even when you feel overwhelmed by everything around us
    1. Commit your self to practices that support joy every day
    2. If we show up, we can find joy in many ways and unexpected places
    3. No one is perfect, give yourself grace and those around you, be easy on yourself and others
    4. God is working in and around us, in our midst, just take a moment and look
    5. Take your worries to God, pray, have a conversation with God, share the good and the troubling
    6. Stop focusing on the things you can’t control
    7. There is evil in the world, there are wars and people are suffering, it is real
    8. Focus on what is closest to you, look for God at work in your day-to-day activities
    9. People have struggled since the garden of Eden
    10. And we are part of that struggle
    11. The struggle is real
    12. The choice is up to us on how we respond
    13. What we focus on
    14. The ancient story, the way God has been working in the world since God created it is our story too
    15. That what sustains us and encourages us
    16. Look, see and hear how God has worked in millions of lives across time and space
  2. And I think that is why I am also drawn to Rabbi Sharon
    1. Her call to each of us to
    2. Just show up
    3. Be there for each other
    4. Listen to each other
    5. We are in this together
    6. Like Paul and Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. discover the holy practice of just showing up
    7. What is being asked of you today?
    8. What is your higher purpose?
    9. Perhaps it is just showing up for someone in need
    10. Go to the viewing and the funeral
    11. Go to the wedding not just the reception
    12. Show up at the hospital bed
    13. Show up and cast your vote
    14. Pay attention to what God is doing in and around you
    15. I don’t know what your higher purpose, what your call from God is?
    16. That is for you to discern
    17. And the way to start is to just show up for each other
    18. Run this race side by side
    19. Pick up those who are struggling
    20. Look around you, get off your screens
    21. What is God asking of you at this very moment?
    22. That is what is means to live out our call as Christians to live into the calling God has set before us
    23. What are you waiting for?
    24. Your most holy practice at this moment is to
    25. Just Show Up
    26. Amen