July 6, 2003

Fourth Sunday of Pentecost

Mark 6:1-13

 “I Thought This Was Supposed to Be Easy”

     Around the beginning of the twentieth century a young man named Clarence took his girlfriend on a picnic to an island in the middle of a lake.  Clarence rowed them out to the island, dragged the boat onto the shore and spread their picnic goodies beneath a tree.  He thought everything was perfect until his date softly said, "Clarence, you forgot the ice cream."  Clarence pulled the boat back to the water and rowed across the lake.  He found a grocery store, bought the ice cream, and rowed back to the island.  When he arrived she said, "But Clarence, you forgot the chocolate syrup."  Love is a powerful thing.  Clarence got back into the boat and rowed across the lake again, went to the store, bought the syrup and started rowing back toward the island.  But partway there, an inspiration stopped him and as he pondered it, he just sat floating motionless in the boat the rest of the afternoon.  After several hours, Clarence Evinrude had worked out the details of a design for the first outboard motor.  His invention would change boating forever.  Oh…and he did finally row out to the island to pick up his date.  Evidently, she was the forgiving type.  Good thing - she later became his wife.
     Clarence Evinrude illustrates a basic principle for successful living: When
problems or pain come your way, it’s best to look for the opportunities they can present.  From a Christian perspective we can see it this way: God might not keep us out of trouble, but can show us a way through it.  And I would also add, in order to see the opportunities God presents, we may have to quit rowing so hard. 

     One of the things that impresses me most about many of you is that you are so willing to row so hard.  We are such a small congregation in such a big place and many of you are doing many things to keep this church afloat and headed in the right direction.  Personally, I feel honored to be with such faithful and dedicated people. 

     At the same time however, I also want to encourage you to look up from your rowing, even let go of the oars and coast if you must to see the opportunities the Lord is placing before our church, even when the rowing is challenging.

     When Jesus began his ministry there seemed to be a surge of interest in what he was doing and saying.  Crowds gathered.  Disciples joined the ranks.  But one day he returned to his hometown and things turned sour.  Some of his old neighbors showed up and criticized him.  How could he be the Messiah?  They remembered Jesus as a local carpenter.  Who did he think he was?  Jesus found little faith there and could do no “deeds of power” except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

     Do you think he was tempted to quit his ministry right then and there?  If he couldn’t get the respect of the people of his own hometown, what was the use?  But instead, in the middle of his troubles, Jesus saw an opportunity he hadn’t seen before.  He saw that the time was ripe for sending out his disciples to do exactly what he was doing.  Instead of giving up or even cutting back when the going got tough, he chose to expand his operation!  And he encouraged his disciples to keep on moving and expanding the ministry if they faced similar problems.  They were to shake off their sandals and keep on moving until they found people who were receptive to the Good News. 

     This little story ends with a short, but wonderfully victorious note: “They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”  Not a bad ending, considering how the story began.

     How will your story turn out?  Will you allow the Lord to show you the way through?  Will we seize the opportunities that open before our church?

     As we ponder these questions we will pause to share Holy Communion.  I would like you to think of this as letting go of the oars and coasting a bit.  It is refreshment on the way.  We taste here the endless love of God.  We share in the greatest gift the world has ever known.  In the middle of all our rowing we find this moment to let go and take it all in, our aches and pains, the blisters, the boat, the lake, the sky, the clouds, the universe beyond imagination, eternity.  That’s what Communion is - a taste of eternity, a door open to the bigger picture, endless opportunity for the willing heart.

      Good things are happening even now in the middle of the lake.  We’ve made friends and shared ministry with the people of Union Chapel on Fishers island.  Our musical outreach has grown with concerts nearly every month and a recent “Voices of Hope“ concert to help the food pantry.  We’re looking into less bureaucracy and more of an inspiration-based ministry.  We’re opening the door to friendship and cooperation with Second Congregational Church.  Nearly 100 shawls have now been knitted or crocheted and donated to people in need (when we hit 100, you better believe we’re going to celebrate!).  What opportunities will God show us next?  Will we allow ourselves to see them and more importantly, act on them?