Tony E Dillon-Hansen
Last updated: 9/17/17 3:57 PM
Sermon based upon
scripture: Exodus 14:19-31
May the Words of my
mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in thy sight. You are
our Rock and Our Redeemer.
When many people think of the
great story of Moses
and Israel crossing the Red Sea,
they likely see the face of the actor,
Heston, playing Moses from that age-old movie,
Ten Commandments
(or maybe the movie, "Exodus: Gods and Kings" from 2014
with Christian Bale playing the lead role.).
This story is rich
with symbolism --enough to film it like a Tolkien epic with giant waves splitting
apart leaving a valley for people to cross.
Then, we observe
those giant waves crashing and destroying the Egyptian army.
There is a strong
implication given the contrasts of natural forces versus the mechanisms of war.
This story is about
being chased by a powerful army
that represents a
past struggle that hopes to re-enslave or wipe out our people.
Suddenly, there is
God providing waves of change.
There is a point
after the waves have settled that a realization takes place.
At this point in the
story,
we are at a new point
in life.
– some call this a crossroads,
a transition, or an awakening.
We must consider what
happens when you have reached a point in life,
when things have changed,
especially after a
long struggle (like our people in the story).
Yet, this is not just
an epic of escaping cataclysmic disaster.
We face these
crossroad-type assessments and transitions today.
Something has ended
and something begins:
You just got a
promotion or considering job change, survive cancer, veteran or refugee from
war, face retirement, or graduate school.
One theologian likens
Exodus to birth.
The types of
transition we have are endless.
What do you when
faced with decisions?
Are we content with
what we have achieved and just stop,
or is there more to do on our journey?
Do you look for God?
It could have been
easy for Israel at this point to say,
“well we have
achieved freedom,”
and try to settle
right there on the shore.
Some people are tired
by just walking across a room,
but Israel made a mad
dash across the Red Sea to escape the terror behind them.
They likely are
exhausted.
God keeps going and instantly
reminds us in many ways,
that there is
something more to be done.
This is just a
transition point,
and thus, it may seem
like another daunting challenge
when that someone
says,
“there's still work left...”
even though you are
so tired of trying.
You are on the other
side of a change, trauma, storm or loss.
Maybe, like the
people in the lesson,
the tumult that was your path to this point
has dramatically changed.
People in
storm-ravaged areas might be asking these same questions.
You find yourself
staring at the next chapter of life,
questioning “now what?”
People don’t like
change.
We know, sometimes,
those waves of change
that God sends look like more struggles on the horizon.
Yet, in the words of a favorite band of mine,
Dream Theater,
“This is the life we
belong to; our gift divine.”
To this point in
life,
maybe you have been
worrying about some darkness in your past (perhaps wondering if they might win
the day.)
When you think about
it, you may recall how God helped you to find a way to make necessary change in
your life.
The direct result is
looking at the wreckage and carnage of the past struggle.
Addicts might
understand this as a moment of clarity.
Even in the moment, the
transition,
the “what comes next”
seems foreign and scary.
Further, the
connection to waves and waters is not lost to our baptism here;
that God guides us
and renews our faith
through the waters of baptism and baptismal
renewals.
Thus, we have
transitioned through baptismal covenant,
and we have been
better for it.
Still, in this point,
the options are clear.
You simply cannot go
back;
you cannot be someone
that you once were.
You can
look at your options,
and then use your
intuition, your experiences,
or your gut to do
what feels right.
A Promised Land is somewhere
over there still,
and we can walk with faith
– one step at a time
to get there.
Whatever way you
choose,
you only go forward
from this spot and this time.
Our Scripture tells
us that we do not need to walk alone.
With faith, we can
walk knowing that God’s steadfast love is right there working and nudging us to
keep following that good path.
God provides us with
those guideposts of love and hope
to get to the
Promised Land that awaits.
A curious thing about
these moments of clarity is
that despite
negativity from the struggle,
we might have managed
to establish a reliable illusion by holding onto that pain.
The struggle gave us
a sense of consistency and reliability,
like you could set your clock to
it.
You may not have
liked it,
but you knew the
pattern and you adapted -- not always healthy ways.
Now, that has
changed; now what?
Buddhists refer to
this idea as part of the Four Noble Truths. That when we end our attachment to
suffering, we can learn to mindfully walk the Path (with prayer and meditation)
to a “Promised Land” or what Buddhist would say enlightenment. The realization
of the suffering (and our attachment to it) is a powerful first step. This is a
continuing effort. When we follow the path, learn to adjust life and let go of
what we are afraid to lose, we may be able to find the Promised Land.
In Christian terms,
we might hear God speaking.
We also realize that
we don’t have to walk alone.
That struggle may have seemed
easier to keep than taking these next steps.
I am not immune to this as I have
decisions today that feel like this.
When I
have been holding onto fear and anxiety,
I have
observed God magically changing that (washing it away).
We are
left standing there looking at the path to a Promised Land with altered vision
because old threats may be gone,
but new
challenges await.
We also know the transition, victory,
and realization ultimately raise new questions.
In this moment when you recognize
that change has happened,
you examine what happened,
assess your goals, decide what to
do next,
and then take the next step.
Take stock in the gifts God has
already given you.
You woke up today and you are
breathing.
you have food, a roof over your
head,
Transportation and beautiful community
around you.
It can be good to be thankful for these
gifts.
They will be your foundation for going
forward.
Do you just stop? Do
you continue un-healthy ways?
How long will the
next part of the path take?
Will there be more
struggle and how well will I adjust?
The answer is yes; you
keep moving and you will struggle.
With this awakening,
we have the freedom to choose.
Yes, there will be
new pains and new loves, but the past does not need to dictate today or
tomorrow. You can be free.
We may have to learn
a new way to live or do something we have not had to do.
That is part of the
mystery of God where the path is presented with the potential of grace, promise
and of course, more messiness towards your Promised Land.
We have realized
something happened,
and it is up to us to
decide to take the next steps.
Then, we may find love within ourselves, with
our neighbors and with God.
We can work together
against the machines of war, slavery and injustice.
We may truly see the
Promised Land laid out for us.
We can take that next
step --and then another.
You don’t need
Heston, acting like Moses, to help you because you have someone much bigger and
much more forgiving. You have God; you have Jesus.
We can walk with
faith and God’s love instead of holding onto the struggles of the past.
We can remind each
other how we are all shining examples of God’s love
and how we are all
called as God’s children.
We know there will be
more challenges.
Yet, with God still
speaking and guiding us, that Promised Land is waiting for us.
Take the next step
you always envisioned you could, and look for God’s hand.
Thanks Be to
God.
