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4 January 1998
Here we are again, closing out one year and welcoming the next. Of course, our 1997 contained a major event in our life together as our beloved Rector, Fr. Brad Hall died in July. And I will confess that as I prepared for this sermon I realized how much I looked forward to hearing Brad's "Rules of the Road." It has been my delight these last few years to listen attentively with you to these remarks, these "rules" to start the new year.
I decided that this would be a good custom to continue at St. Margaret's. So this Sunday and next let us look at some Rules of the Road for our 1998. Believing that confession is good for the soul, I offer you another confession. I couldn't resist looking at Brad's remarks for 1997.
I was humbled, amazed, enlivened, and exhilarated to find his Rules of the Road, shared a year ago, were infused with the wisdom of God and perfect for helping us through a difficult 1997. His words remain a wonderful guide for us in 1998.
Listen to the openning words of that sermon:
In his lovely letter to the Ephesian church, Paul prays that they might receive the gift of wisdom to guide them through life. "May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ give you a spirit of wisdom, and have the eyes of our hearts enlightened."
And that, [Brad said], is my prayer for all of us this new year—that God will enlighten our hearts and grant us the gift of wisdom to help us along the road of life and keep us headed in the right direction.
Thank God for Brad's inspiration in making this prayer. It has served us well in 1997, it will continue to serve us well in 1998. He continued with his first, and most important bit of wisdom for 1997, listen:
Let's begin with a theme, a motto which will carry us through many a storm in life.
"All things work together for good for those who love God." (Rom. 8:28)
As was his style, he illustrated this point with a story to warm our hearts and inform our minds. The truth of these words of the Apostle were learned in the kitchen:
When I was a little girl in Germany, I asked my mother what it means that "all things work together for good." My mother was baking a cake at the time, and without a word she handed me a spoonful of baking soda. It tasted awful! "Amelia," my mother then said, as I spit out the terrible taste, "Many things in life, when taken by themselves, are not always pleasant; but when they are mixed together with all of life and baked in the oven of love, you will love the results."
"I learned a powerful lesson that day," wrote Amelia. "Baking soda by itself is terrible, but when mixed into a cake, with all the other ingredients, the results are wonderful!"
This is a helpful lesson of faith for us who struggle with distasteful problems of life. If we allow God to take them, He will weave them into a beautiful pattern and we will know that, in the end, "All things work together for good for those who love God."
Taken by itself Brad's untimely death in July was like that spoonful of baking soda (or worse). Allowing God to work with this unfinished batter, allowing God to bake this "in the oven of love," we open ourselves to experience in our own day the truth that "all things work together for good for those who love God." And I believe, as Brad did, that this "will carry us through many a storm in life."
He continued his Rules of the Road with one that now takes on a greater significance for all of us:
You've got two eyes [Brad said] keep one on the road of life and the other focused on where you're ultimately heading - eternity. Again, the story he used to illustrate his point reminds us to keep this dual focus, an important step for all of us:
[This] wonderful story [is] from the tradition of the great American pioneer, Daniel Boone. According to the story, Daniel Boone took a friend with him on one of his trips. As day was breaking, Boone's friend said, "Where do we go today?" Boone looked out over the valley that lay ahead of them and pointed to a rocky outcrop on the far side. "That looks to be about 20 miles from here," he said. "If we start now we should be able to pitch camp there by sundown." So they took off through the woods. All day they followed deer trails and the meanders of creeks and streams. They made new paths where no one had ever walked before. Then, shortly before sundown, they stood at the foot of that sheer cliff they had seen from across the valley that morning. Boone's friend was amazed. "How in the world did you find this place?" he asked. "We saw it only once this morning. All day we've been walking through uncharted woods. How were you able to do that?" The old pioneer thought for a minute and then said, "I don't know exactly, but maybe it's because I have a near look and a far vision."
[Brad concluded], Isn't that the truth. It takes a near look and a far vision to make it through this life and into the next. Especially as we move into the search and then the call of our new Rector, let us keep one eye focused on the road of life, but let us always be aware of our ultimate destiny to be with God, and let us keep these in perspective, even as Brad did.
Along those same lines, something we came to recognize in Brad was his focus on God. He continued his Rules of the Road with this short story, and a powerful observation and exhortation for us:
A rabbi in Russia once summoned all of the Jews of his village to assemble in the main square the next day at noon. He had an announcement of the greatest importance to make. He ordered all the merchants to close their shops, all nursing mothers to bring their infants. Everyone, no exceptions, should be there.
The people wondered what the announcement could be. Was a pogrom imminent? Would there be a new tax? Was the rabbi going to leave?
At noon, the entire community was gathered. Everyone waited with baited breath. Precisely at twelve, the Rabbi rose and said, "I, Levi Yitzhak, son of Sarah, have gathered you here today in order to tell you ... There is a God in the world."
At first the people were perplexed. Was this the big announcement that they had left their homes and closed their shops to hear? Had the rabbi convened them only to tell them something that every school child already knew? But then, as they thought about it, they began to say to themselves, "Indeed, what could be more important than to know that there is a God in the world." (The American Rabbi, Feb. 1993)
The rabbi knew that it is important, now and then, to just stop whatever it is we are doing and recognize the presence of God [Brad reminded us]. We certainly do this at worship on Sunday in the church. What the rabbi tells us is that we must also recognize God's presence in the middle of the week and in the center of our villages; perhaps while we are walking down El Paseo, or driving along Highway 111; standing on the fairway of the golf course, or in the supermarket. Take a moment, look up, and affirm His presence. Then get on with your lives. "For what could be more important than to know there is a God in the world and in the middle of our village!"
And he quickly followed this with another truth that we all know, though we need to be reminded from time to time:
Along with recognizing that God exists, it is also helpful to remember that He is on your side. I remember reading one of those short Readers' Digest nuggets which reflects this so well. It was about the mini-miracles of ordinary life:
"Have you ever noticed that once in a while the fundamental laws of the universe seem to be momentarily suspended, and everything goes right?
"You drop a glass in the sink when you're washing dishes and it bounces nine times and doesn't even chip. You come out after work to find your car lights have been on all day and your battery's dead; but you turn the key and the car starts. The deposit beats your rubber check to the bank because there was a holiday you forgot about. The 3:00 a.m. heart attack turns out to be gas.
"Small miracles occur for ordinary people day by ordinary day. There is grace in knowing what might have been but wasn't, and that wonderful bliss of living a day when nothing special happens, but life just works."
With that short story, let me again borrow from Brad, and ask that you put a bookmark here. I hope that you share my exhilaration with the rediscovery of these words of wisdom, these Rules of the Road Brad has left us. They are as valuable today as they were last year. And next week we will build upon this foundation as we move with God into 1998. Amen.
The Rev. Daniel Rondeau
drondeau@stmargarets.org
4 January 1998