Advent 2 (C) Wilderness Joy
Advent 2 (C) Wilderness Joy
by The Rev. Ernest Campbell --
December 6, 2009 & December 6, 2015
“The word of God came to John in the wilderness.”
“The word of God came to the Israelites in the wilderness.”
“The word of God came to Jesus in the wilderness.”
The dictionary’s first definition of “wilderness” is a place with no people. I have
taken many young people into the wilderness. I have observed that on the first
night when it gets dark and the kids realize that there are no roads off the island
where we are camped, no phones, no possibility of canoeing in the dark, no
favorite snack, TV show, friendly dog or cat. No parents in range of your voice and
post of all the cozy joy of sleeping in your own bed. I have notice there is always a
moment of “stationary panic.”
Here we are camped in the wilderness! Where do we turn?
When our son Dave, with his degree in “outdoor Recreation” from Eastern
Washington University, looks at my slides he turns to me and says, “Dad, you were
out of your mind.” Today, the question of liability is much more of a concern than
it was fifty years ago.
I had my reasons for promoting these trips and I had considerable experience, even
though I had no college degree on the subject. It was my hope that we would gain a
greater appreciation of God’s wonderful creation, build a greater trust in our
relationships, be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and the fun of an
adventure.
**Diving off a ten-foot cliff, one girl from a Minnesota canoe trip said, “Never say
no to an adventure.” Her words became our trips mantra.
The wilderness gives one a different perspective. Things we take for granted; a
warm shower, a chair with a back, a glass of ice water, all take on the status of
rewards rather than givens.
**Coming off of a particularly rain Canadian canoe trip we stopped at a restaurant
for our first meal in civilization. One high school girl excused herself to go to the
bathroom. She was back in less than a minute. She said, “I just wanted to hear it
flush.”
The dictionary goes on to define “Wilderness” as a desolate, lonely place. I’m
thinking of a humane shelter after the staff and visitors have gone home. I’m
thinking of those big, brown puppy eyes begging to make some connection. I’m
thinking of the children in the world who face each day with desperation to
survive.
Wilderness changes one’s perspective.
Think of ow a wilderness experience would change our perspective on how we
would see advertisements selling the “good life.” What we have right now looks
pretty good. All we really need is someone; someone who will listen, someone
who will care. A wilderness experience would help in preparing one for that
appreciation.
**After a hard portage, one camper said with a sigh, “This must be something you
enjoy after you get home.” He became my best promoter.
Last Sunday I had the joy of listening to a sermon at St. Paul’s The point, I believe,
that Fr. Rambo was making was that if we want to experience God’s love in our
lives, we have to pave the way. That’s what the theme of Advent is all about.
“Prepare the way of the Lord.”
Sometime that best way to appreciate the good things in our lives is to cut back. To
go into the wilderness. To retreat. Visit a place that will give you a different
perspective. Where can we separate ourselves in order to appreciate connections?
Fr. Rambo asked, “Have you ever seen Jesus.” Most likely if you were to ask a
friend if they had ever seen Jesus your friend would look off into space and try to
change the subject. But if you asked them if they had ever been encouraged by a
caring person, they would in all probability have a story to tell.
Fr. Rambo invited the congregation to give him a call if they saw Jesus.
I checked, as of last Friday, no one had called except me.
Here’s my story: Last week I visited a parishioner that I have been calling on for
the past forty years. I buried her husband, her son in law, and a daughter. She is
102 years old. This time she was very tired. She greeted me as usual with, “You are
a wonderful man.” Then was silent. I held her hand, ang a few hymns and said
some prayers and blessed her. As I was leaving, she said, as usual, “come again
soon?”
Walking down the hall I passed a nurse who recognized me. I stopped and shared
that I think I was saying good by to my old, old friend. I turned to continue down
the hall and she said, “Do you need a hug?” I did need a hug and we hugged!
That’s a hug I will remember.
I called Fr. Rambo the next day and told him that I had seen Jesus on the fourth
floor of the Odd Fellows home.
There are all kinds of kindnesses that are freely given and gratefully received every
day. We simply don’t always see the gift or realize how life giving it can be.
Jesus said, “When I was sick, you visited me. When I was hungry you fed me.
When I was in prison you visited me.” And they said, “Lord, when did we see you
sick, or hungry, or in prison?”
You saw me on the fourth floor of the Odd Fellows.
A wilderness experience can teach us to see life’s true values. When we see the
blessings, we cannot help develop a grateful heart.
A former acolyte told me that she loves going to church because she always goes
home with a nugget. Heep your eye on that young lady because I believe she has
prepared the way for the Lord. I love Paul’s prayer in today’s Epistle:
Philippians 1: “This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with
knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so that in the day of
Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.”
Lord, help each of us in our own way to prepare the way for the Lord’s loving
kindness.
Comments
Post a Comment