When I gave this sermon at Fairview Chapel in November, I felt a little bit like Moses when he said, “Lord please send someone else.” At this time in my life I am struggling with illness and worry, and being too darn busy, and having too much stress in my life. I wondered what kind of message I could bring that would be really helpful or useful, and I was kind of drawing a blank.
So I did that thing that those big-time radio
preachers and mega-church pastors always say they do... I had a talk with God
and I asked him what HE wanted me to say...
Okay... I am not in the habit of sitting at
traffic lights or in a booth at Bob Evans, having a private conversation with
the Almighty. I can tell you that this pretty much—actually NEVER happens. I have never heard
God’s authoritative voice in an audible broadcast, booming in my
own head or over the loudspeaker system at Wal-Mart. Nope.
But the fact is, I asked the question, and I got an answer this time. I asked him “Lord, what do you want me to say?” and he actually answered me. He did not emblazon it on tablets or cause any of our shrubs to burst into flames. There was nothing cinematic about it... In fact, it was really pretty simple. I wrote the answer down, and here it is...
But the fact is, I asked the question, and I got an answer this time. I asked him “Lord, what do you want me to say?” and he actually answered me. He did not emblazon it on tablets or cause any of our shrubs to burst into flames. There was nothing cinematic about it... In fact, it was really pretty simple. I wrote the answer down, and here it is...
God said: Tell them that I love them. Tell them that they don’t need to act like holy saints or angels or pretend to be something they are not. I know them through and through. I love them... just that way.
Tell them that my love is unconditional, as a
good parent for his child... even (or especially) when they are lost or
misbehaving...
Broken or foolish,
Busy,Ignorant,
Wayward,
Belligerent
Angry (even really angry at me, the Lord their God),
Poured out in wrong pursuits... wasted time, worthless ventures.
God wanted
me to tell you this:
Even when you put me last, I put you first.I hold you tenderly.
When you cannot understand... why
Oh why me, Lord—
When you cry out in bitterness and frustration,
When you argue and compete with those you love, or shut yourself off from one another
When you see the world, and my creation, as hopeless,
When your heart is ragged-edged and broken into shards like glass,
When you hold a grudge and cannot see through the fog of your own disappointment,
I love you.
He said, when your faith is shrunken and shaken and shattered,
I have faith in you.
I am the one who is faithful...
Not you... but I AM.
I simply AM. I AM.
That’s my name, don’t wear it out.
But try, he said. You really can’t anyway—wear out my name, that is, but go ahead—give it your best shot,
And call my holy name.
Call on me.
I’m here 24/7.
No really. I’m right here. Even when you
think you are abandoned.
When everyone around you looks like an enemy
to you,Or, at least... not a real, true friend,
I’m here.
I’m here, blessing you, abiding with you.
When your bank account is overdrawn. When you fail at things large, and things insignificant.
When you really would just like want one darn minute to yourself, to hear yourself think, for heaven’s sake (I’ve heard you say that)...
Okay.
But I’m still here, blessing you.
Even when you want so much to feel my presence, and think you can’t,
Or when you think you don’t want me around, because you are a little bit ashamed of what you are doing...
Either way, I’m here.
In your darkest hour, in the most frightening
moment of your life,
When you hearThose words
Your most unspeakable fear, coming so horribly true,
As you close your eyes in grief and terror and disbelief at the news,
Lord, please make it,
Please make it not be true...
I am here. Holding you. Keeping your head above the water.
I love you.
I believe in you.
I am faithful, here for you.
I am waiting for you.
In the beauty of the sky at sunset,
The seasons changing,
The miracle of babies and art and music
And friendship,
In the wonder of loveliness,
The touch of your lover,
The first falling snow of winter,
In whatever you find most breathtakingly beautiful in life,
That is just the tiniest glimpse... a microscopic fraction
Of the beauty of my love.
The safest, warmest, most comforting
Smell of baking cookies,
In the golden light of windows across a frozen field,
Welcoming you home,
Welcoming you here,
When you are weary, or broken, or sick, in your body and your soul,
Warmth and love and open arms enfold you...
And that is just a drop, a tiny fragment, a spark,
Of the homecoming I have in store for you...
The home fires that are burning,
Of my abiding love for you.
And this love is here for you, right now
This very moment now, which is really all we
have in life...My love, my home, my heart for you
Is not just some pie-in-the-sky afterlife,
where saints and angels live,
That you get to by some magical transportation beyond the clouds,
If you are good and saintly and holy all your
life.
My love, my home, my heart, are right here,
right now, for you.My kingdom come.
God said, for me to tell you—
He said, tell them I love them.
Tell them it’s allright.It’s all going to be allright.
Because whatever you are going through,
Whatever you are thinking,
Seeing,
Feeling,
Doing,
Giving or receiving,
Unfolding, good or bad, into the world,
I love you.
Tell them I said:
Be with me.
Spend a moment, just breathing, in my presence...
Or even, maybe, an hour.
Invite me in.
Just be.
Just be with me.
Right now. Because I’m here.
I AM. I really, really AM.
That is what the Lord wanted me to tell you. Amen.
