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BProp23 Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31 October 11, 2009
This coming Wednesday evening, at our 2nd Wednesday program you’ll have a chance to hear from John Cantwell, Charle Statler, and Joely and Carly Mixon about their mission trip to Nicaragua this past summer. They’ve got a great presentation, lots of photos and memories to share. I had the joy of going with them to Nicaragua, but won’t be here this Wednesday to share in their presentation. So, I’d like to share one of my experiences with you today. It was my journey of climbing a volcanic mountain.
When we arrived at the base of the mountain, all we could see was a huge black mound of volcanic rock, so massive that seeing its height and breadth would be like being able to see land at that vanishing point where ocean meets sky. We began to follow those who knew the way, on a path that was not at all obvious. It couldn’t be, because all there was to see was black, hollow, crunchy, jagged rocks of varying sizes. As we began to work our way up the steep path, we left all signs of life behind. I kept my eyes on where to place my feet on the rocks. To step onto loose rocks could mean some cuts and scratches and probably a pretty bad tumble down. While I was climbing up, I wondered what it would be like to try to walk DOWN such a steep path. Easier on the heart and breathing, perhaps, but, I expected, it would be tough to keep your balance and footing.
Occasionally I would stop and rest. First I would look in front of me and see nothing but more black rock, a hint of the trail I was on, and the people in front of me winding their way up with still no end in sight. Then I would look out and see other black mountains with brand new, bright green vegetation creeping up their sides.
When I finally got to the top, it was like stepping out of a very limited confinement into infinity!
There was the crater of the volcano – with smoke coming up out of it; the mustard yellow color of sulfur deposits. There was wind so strong you could lean way into it and not fall forward. As we sat down on the black surface, there was life everywhere! --in the form of tiny bugs - bright green and yellow, and butterflies easily flitting around in the forceful wind. There was an endless vista of mountains of varying ages, some completely lush and green. Others still black and smoldering. Having gotten to the crest, rather than being on a narrow path, making my way one step at a time, I was surrounded by people as we sat together with the deafening wind whipping about us. We ate our sandwiches and drank our precious water and simply took it all in.
When it was time to go, I found myself really dreading the hike down. It had taken us well over an hour to climb up. Then I was told that there was an easier way. I was beckoned over to the edge of the level top of the mountain where we had been sitting. And there was a steep slope. It seemed like a sheer vertical drop, all finely crushed black pebbles, not one larger than a marble. And there I saw members of our group sliding down it! It was kind of like cross-country skiing. You took a step, slid on that foot, took another step, slid on that foot. Step-slide, step-slide all the way down and I was at the bottom in two minutes!
Jesus, setting out on a journey. He and his disciples have just come down from the top of that mountain. They have been talking about the experience and sharing it with people who had wanted to hear about it. And a man runs up to Jesus, his arms loaded with large picture albums. He says, “Wait! Good teacher! I’m so glad I got here before you left.” “Ah, great!” replies Jesus, “you want to know about the mountain.” “No, I want you to tell me what to do to be assured that I’m doing what I need to do to reap that final reward that comes to truly good people. I’ve brought these albums what will tell you all about my life – Pictures of my life, my work, my home, my family, evidence of good decisions I’ve made, evidence a good honest and moral life. I just want to make sure nothing is missing.”
Jesus responds, “Well, it looks like you know all the rules to follow. If that is so, your albums may contain everything that has to do with being a moral person and leading a good conventional life.”
“It is so! I do follow them all. I have since I learned them as a young boy.”
Jesus looks at him. Jesus looks behind himself at the great mountain against which they all looked like such small creatures. And Jesus knows that this man doesn’t know what it is that he should desire. What would satisfy his longing was right before him – to follow the path up the mountain not merely to follow the rules he had learned. Jesus looks at him and loves him. Like you would love someone enough to turn his head around so he wouldn’t miss an incredible rainbow or sunset. Like you would love someone enough to urge her to wait just a little longer for someone she’s been waiting for - and you knew would eventually arrive. Because you know that if she misses this moment in her life she will be walking away from some wonderful destiny she will otherwise never fulfill.
Jesus looks at him and loves him. And Jesus says to him, “There’s just one thing that will put it all together for you. Climb up the mountain with me. Right now.”
“But you just came down and you’re leaving.”
“Follow me up the mountain and when we come down, you’ll have the answer to a question you haven’t known how to ask. And you’ll have a whole new perspective on life and you’ll be free! You’ll be able to leave your albums right here at the foot of this mountain and set off with me. And I know you don’t get it now, but you’ll have everything you need.”
For a moment, Jesus held a glimmer of hope. So ardent was this man, even though his request fell far short of the gift being offered. Jesus could sense the yearning coming from the man’s heart, the look of hope in his eyes.
But, in an instant it was lost. And the man turned and began to walk away, lugging with him his cumbersome load.
Eternal life – we cannot captivate all that it means. But I do believe that at least part of eternal life is being in that place where you know you have gotten off your own small path and are surrounded by the power and the intricacy of God’s grace, where you are part of a vista so much larger than your own life, where it’s no longer just your own breath that sustains you but a mighty wind that sweeps through the heights.
What mostly hold us back from this eternal life is our possessions, our own albums filled with all that we have accrued that weigh us down. He simply invites us to set them down. To give them up. Freely, to give them up. Most often, they will not completely disappear from our lives. They will remain. But until we release them, set them upon the ground, and feel what it is like to walk without them, they will determine our journey.
Don’t let them keep you from Jesus’ invitation to climb with him to the top of the mountain and to catch a glimpse of eternal life.
Walton: Part of Stewardship is an invitation to let go, and let God. Another part of stewardship is, in that trust to let go, to invest in the work of our church…
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