August 17, 2003

Ephesians 5:15-20

“Fill ‘Er Up!”

     The thunderstorm that rolled through last evening brought some welcome relief from the heat.  The breeze that blew ahead of it pushed the curtains across my shoulder as I sat at the computer working on this sermon.  Of course, if I had any sense I would have turned off the computer and unplugged it to protect it from lightening or a power surge, but no, I didn’t bother because those things don’t happen!  Our electrical power is dependable.  It’s always there for us.

     Right…that’s what a lot of other people thought just before the biggest blackout in history hit the northeast this week.  Of course, we blamed the Canadians and they blamed us.  Now I think we’re all blaming Ohio.

    Do you remember the last big blackout that hit New York City?  It was in the 1970’s, wasn’t it?  If I remember correctly, they called that event “The Night New York Burned” because the resulting lawlessness caused so much property damage and looting.  They’re saying the disaster of 9/11 pushed the city to improve their emergency preparedness and that made a difference.  Most people seemed to be pretty good about the whole thing at first, but it wasn’t long until they started to get edgy, complaining about communication, security, transportation and water systems that didn‘t work. 

      We need that power!  We depend on it!  We can hardly move without it!  Now, maybe we can better appreciate what the people of Iraq have been going through the past several months. 

     It only took nine seconds of trouble in a couple transmission lines in Ohio to bring the whole system down, rendering 50 million people in two countries powerless.  How humbling - a stark reminder of how fragile our existence is. 

     Certainly this is true if the power that moves our lives is measured in kilowatts or some other measure like horsepower, gigabytes or even dollars.  If the power that moves our lives ultimately depends on how we fuel the economy, our technological developments or how capable we are of controlling our neighbors and the environment, if it ultimately depends on our human capabilities, then we’re probably bound to be in the dark a lot of the time. 

     Not everyone thinks so.  In the energy-starved state of California (they’re 30 billion dollars in debt!), it looks like they just might turn to the ultimate manifestation of human power for their salvation: six-time Mr. Olympian body builder, box office smash movie star, mega millionaire, the “Terminator Governor”, Arnold Schwarzenegger!  Now don‘t get me wrong, I like Arnold, but as governor of a state which, believe it or not, has the sixth largest economy in the world?  But, why not - he‘s a powerhouse!  He says his top priority will be California’s economy because in his words…and this is a direct quote… “Money is everything.”  See, he knows all about power - he’s perfect for the job!

     Maybe we should keep Arnold and the state of California in our prayers.

     Isn’t there a “Higher Power”?  Isn’t there a greater source of power, of never-ending light that can truly shine for us in the dark?  In 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, the Apostle Paul said he taught people about Jesus Christ because he didn’t want them to depend on human wisdom, but the power of God.  He speaks of that power again in today’s lesson from Ephesians. 

     Here, he talks about depending on the Lord as our source and strength.  He says not to be unwise or foolish, but wise and understand what the will of the Lord is.  He says not to be filled with wine, which is his way of saying we shouldn’t waste our lives on things that don’t amount to much.  Rather, he says, be filled with the Holy Spirit.  He says a life so filled sings with psalms and hymns and melodies, giving thanks.  When we seek to understand the will of the Lord and our hearts and souls are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are truly empowered.  We can face anything, even death.  Praise results and thanksgiving flows.

     I believe Jesus’ primary purpose was to open us this abundance, to help us see the big picture, to help us realize the power that is there for us, power to set us free from the darkness of human sin and fallibility, power to sustain us, power to even overcome death.  I think he was trying to get us to see that all we need is right there, right in the heart of God’s love.

     It’s powerful stuff.  It moves hearts, changes lives, inspires souls.  It can bring our lives, even this world, peace.  It is only limited by God’s choice to let it flow through our hearts.

     The true light in the darkness of New York City didn’t come from backup generators.  It came from human kindness, all those people who provided blankets for people sleeping in offices and lobbies and in parks, all those people who gave room to strangers, all those people who provided transportation, handed out food or took ice water to subway workers.  And I’m willing to bet that many of those people who extended such kindnesses were people of faith, doing what faith does best, casting light into dark places.  The opening verses of the Gospel of John say the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it.   

     This is the power of God’s love.  With it, you can give comfort, bring healing, instill hope.  With it, you can move a heart and thereby, change the world.  It’s powerful stuff, like a rush through the turbines of Hoover Dam, old Moses striking a rock with a stick and a flood pouring forth, a Samaritan woman at a well getting a drink that will never leave her thirsty, a cup running over.  It is all the power of the universe manifest in the love the Creator gives to you.