Passing the Baton
Introduction
I overuse it, I know, but it was seriously meaningful to me in the 90’s. My favourite Valedictorian Speech of all times was the song on the radio, “Sunscreen” by Baz Luhrman. In it he says:
“Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked…
You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.”
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Well, excellent advice… something to pass on to our graduates as they move on; and something that would be a good bit of advice for anyone as they go off to the cottage or vacation, or things wind down…
But it is not everything you need to know – because the world is bigger than we imagine; there are connections and issues and problems that go beyond our own needs. I do like the song because it reminds us that we are usually worried about the wrong things – but I also think our faith has something to say…
The Relay Race
Life is a race… it really is… but the truth is; it is a race that goes a lot faster if we understand that we are in it together:
Spoon Water Race
Two teams – everyone versus one…
How long will it take one person to fill a cup using a spoon? How about if there are ten people? A hundred?
Are we there yet?
I am sure I any of you have ever been anywhere with kids – either your own or grandkids, or even friends, you have heard the question – “Are we there yet?” In fact, you have probably heard it a million times…. I would like to suggest that we never grow out of that question, we just become more subtle…
Listen again to the disciples talking to Jesus: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” … They have been walking around for years teaching and preaching, healing and confronting and all the time wondering if they are accomplishing anything – all the time wanting to ask, “Are we there yet?” and finally they get up the courage and ask, is it time for you to solve all our problems?
Because that is what we all want, right, the time to come when things will be better. My daughter Rachael wants to be as old as Emily so she can chew bubble gum. Emily wants to be old enough to stay up later. Kids can’t wait to be teenagers, teenagers can’t wait to be adults, adults can’t wait to finish school, workers can’t wait to retire, retirees can’t wait for the winter and their trip down south… etc… there is always something out there that is “better”
“It is not for you to know the times and periods of things, you are not gods...” says Jesus.
Then later the disciples say essentially the same thing to the people gathered: Why are you looking up into heaven? Look around… there are important things happening right here, right now…
Still later the author of 1peter says, “Cast all your anxiety on God….” And then it goes on to be sort os a spiritual warfare guide – there are always bad things happening, there are always evil situations and people seeking you out…. So what do you do?
Discipline yourself, keep alert, be humble… know that God loves you and trust that things will work out…
Those who have great wisdom know a truth we find it hard to accept – we are never going to be “there”… life is about the journey and what we do on it.
All Good Things
I mean, seriously, listen to the words of that Psalm… I will read you the concluding part as it is in the Bible …
(God is the) Father of orphans and protector of widows… God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land. O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai… again in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Going back to my Valedictorian Speech … Here is the way Moses would have given it, or Jesus, or any of the prophets: There is evil. Believe it. Bad things happen for no reason; live through it. Know that God loves you; trust; have hope in something better… because there is something bigger than you; there is a plan and a purpose, and the universe is unfolding in a way that you cannot imagine.
One Love
So the time has come for Jesus to leave and he is going to give his last will and testament – sort of a final speech and last wish… what he ends up doing is a prayer for people:
- did work was sent to do = help people know God
- thru words and actions = people came to believe
- “I am coming to rejoin you. So now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world.
- God, protect them, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
Really this is a speech about passing the torch… he is saying that he is ok with leaving because he knows that there are people left to do work; and that they believe in the same things he does – their goal is that all may be one.
One Church
- this very prayer/scripture prompted creation of UCC
- recognized call for not just spiritual unity but physical unity too
- worldwide movement = healing divisions within Xtian church
- bringing various churches together
- June 10, 1925 = Methodist, Presby, Congregationalist & Union
- first modern union of diff denoms in world
- 85th celebration: “...a new church was born. Administratively and institutionally, it was a bit of a train wreck...organizing four such different denoms into one! But at the same time, this was a new and exciting thing. Instead of breaking up because we disagreed with one another, we were uniting. ... We were born out of a desire to follow Jesus' prayer that all of his followers in the world might be one, united in love and in purpose.”
- Happy 86th birthday, United Church of Canada!
- continue to be “uniting church” = work together with other interdenominational and interfaith to be as one…
I think in the United Church we see the path laid out before us – the way to go and be and bring about God’s kingdom.
Conclusion
So – this was a bit of my own valedictorian speech. It was a bit all over the place. It drew in too many sources…
But the things is, whether you are graduating from High School, finishing a school year, having your life change in front of your eyes, getting married divorced, retiring, or just facing a summer at the cottage… you have choices laid out ahead of you…
In the Bible God puts it this way:
“I put before you this day Life and Death, Blessing and Curse, … choose life, that you may live!”
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