Epiphany 4 C Watch Over Us on This Dangerous Earth

 Epiphany 4 C Watch Over Us on This Dangerous Earth

February 2, 1986

By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell


I was at home preparing something to eat when suddenly the radio blurted out the news…

President Kennedy had been shot! I would be surprised if anyone who learned that tragic news

did not remember exactly where they were, and what they were doing. It was as if our whole

nation came to a stop on a dingle frame of “life’s passing parade.”


Where were you last Tuesday when you heard the news that our space shuttle had exploded on

lift off killing all aboard? I was in the back room of Logos Book Store for our regular Tuesday

morning clergy bible study. We remained silent for some time, while we sorted our feelings, and

gathered our thoughts. We were at that moment all focused on a single frame of “life’s passing

parade” – all compelled to look at the reality and pain of death. One of the first concerns that

came out of our stunned silence was the hope that someone with the right degree of compassion

would move along side the families of the Astronauts and school teacher. That thought seemed to

be the most appropriate – “life’s passing parade” will not be frozen – it would be pointless to

stand staring off into space, focused on that tragic frame and allow it to immobilize the good

actions that we are still capable of performing.


I’m sure that we have all felt moved to reach out to someone hurting – but hesitated for fear that

we would say the wrong thing. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard few complaints about

anyone saying the wrong thing. Somehow if we are willing to minister with our presence –

either in body, or on the phone, or with a note – the right words get said and heard. Scripture tells

us that when we are on trial for our Christian faith, trust the Spirit to inspire the right words.


    Ex) The importance of a personal note on a get-well card.

    Ex) Sometimes just a hug says what needs to be said.

    Ex) My advisor’s hand shake. [Mr. Hoyt was my high school advisor, and shook my hand in the

        back seat of the car I was riding home in after my father’s burial service. He died when I was 16

        years old. The handshake said more than words could say – I will be here for you – I am here

        with you, and will continue to be here for you.


As our back-room conversation moved on, we looked at the risk of exploration. As the Bishop of

Minnesota, Hamilton Kellogg, put it as he blessed congregations, “Lord, watch over us on this

dangerous earth.”


Life on planet earth is dangerous; oceans, rivers and mountains have all taken their toll.

Powerful, fast-moving machines, and the fact that there are some crazy, sick people out there,

have not made the earth any safer. I’ve always liked Charles Lindberg’s instructions to the

Director of the Teton Valley Ranch (where I worked for ten summers) about his children who

were about to attend camp. He said, “I want our children to live dangerously – not foolishly – but

dangerously.


Foolishness begins at the point of not knowing when to turn back. The inherent problem of

challenging new frontiers is the limited amount of data available from which to make that ‘Go’,

‘No Go’ decision.


There have always been, and will always be men and women who thrive and survive in the midst

of that challenge. Last Tuesday, seven explorers moved into that highly dangerous frontier of

exploration that is still in int’s infancy. They did not make it – but from all that we have heard

and read about these men and women, they were right where they wanted to be, doing what they

wanted to be doing.


Some of you probably noted that toady is Boy Scout Sunday. The Boy Scouts have a motto

which is ‘Be Prepared’ life on the dangerous earth insists that being prepared be everyone’s way

of life. We pray these words in the Great Litany – From lightning and tempest: from earth-quake,

fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine – Good Lord Deliver Us.


From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion, from violence, battle, and murder; and from

dying suddenly and unprepared – Good Lord Deliver Us.


We are all finite human beings – none can boast the secret of possessing eternal life. God is

eternal, we are finite. It is only as we weave our finite lives into God’s infinite being, and allow

God to weave His infinite being into our finite being, that we become resurrection people.

The Christian goal in this challenging and dangerous earth is to make our relationship with God

so good that it would be worth continuing forever.

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