As flood waters began to rise around a man's house, people in a row boat came by and implored the homeowner to climb in. The man refused, saying, "I've prayed about this. God will save me." The row boat moved on. Next, as the rising waters forced the man to the second story of his home, people in a motorboat came by and implored the man to climb in. The man refused, repeating, "I've prayed about this. God will save me." The motorboat moved on. As the flood waters continued their inexorable rise, the man was forced out onto his roof. While he clung to the chimney, a helicopter came and hovered above the man. They implored him to climb up the rope ladder to safety. As he had done twice before, the man again said, "I've prayed about this. God will save me." The helicopter moved on. Soon the flood overtook the man and swept him to his death.
Upon arriving in Heaven, the man demanded an audience with God. At the meeting, the man, recounting that he had placed his faith in God to save him, demanded to know why God allowed him to drown. In response, God said, "I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat, and helicopter. What more did you expect?"
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To be fair, any of us, weighed down with real problems, can lose the ability to recognize when actual help has arrived. It's almost endemic to the human condition. Consider the man in this week's Lectionary selection from John 5. Having been disabled for decades, he has joined many others who await a miraculous healing in the waters of Bethesda. Notice how he never answers when Jesus asks, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6 NRSV). The guy can only talk about missed opportunities, not having anyone to help him with his problem, and how others seem to get all the breaks. The solution to his problem (Jesus) is right in front of him, but he is looking beyond, to something more complicated, perhaps something grander. In this case, Jesus took immediate action, not waiting for the man's perceptions to catch up.
But what do we do in our lives?
Some years ago, Oprah was invited to make the Commencement address at Wellesley College. In part, she recounted the experience of the Prophet Elijah on the Mountain of the Lord (1Kings 19). At first, there is a wind so strong it breaks the rocks on the mountainside (think hurricane). But God is not in the mighty wind. Next, there is an devastating earthquake that shakes the mountain. But God is not in the earthquake. This is followed by a powerful fire that sweeps across the mountainside. But God is not in the fire. Finally, Elijah hears "a still, small voice," a whisper. And there, in the whisper, is God.
Oprah went on to exhort the graduates to not wait for, nor expect, the grand spectacles, but rather, "to catch God on the whisper."
I thought it was a lovely way to launch those young women out onto the rest of their lives. And I think it's excellent advice for any of us. Why should we need the miraculous? Why not just tune our senses to perceive God's original, and simplest, approach? We don't need to skip the rowboat, the motorboat, and the helicopter while awaiting something grander. There is no need to look beyond what may appear to be just ordinary circumstance. Consider what (and who) is right in front you.
Catch God on the whisper.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 1, 2016)
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
First reading
Acts 16:9-15
Psalm
Psalm 67
Second reading
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
Gospel
John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9
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Please join us for Lectionary Breakfast Friday morning. We meet at 8:00 at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant. The hour we meet includes breakfasts we order from the menu, scriptures we read aloud, and unfettered discussion. We say what we think and we grow from listening to each other. Nothing fancy.
We're all hoping to "catch God on the whisper."
Enjoy your week!
Steve
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