Stuck In Reverse (A Steve Orr scripture reflection)

In theory, theory and reality are the same. In reality, they're not.

I'm pretty sure where it went wrong was when they had the 11-year old drive the tractor. We were at the farm of some family friends, helping with spring planting. The idea was a simple one: use the tractor to pull a discing sledge through the field to make furrows. Once it was done, we could walk down each row, pressing one seed into the soil about every eight inches.

There are some things you need to know before I tell more of this tale. First, when I was eleven years old, it was common for children of all ages to work on family farms. Second, it was common for friends to drive out from town to help on farms. Third, it was common (and perfectly legal) for ten year old children to operate farm machinery, including tractors and pickup trucks.

So there we were, townies and farm folk, children and adults, all friends, working together to get a crop into the ground. Two of us kids were eleven that spring, the oldest of the bunch. My friend was the farm boy; I was the townie.

The first pass of the tractor and sledge made some progress, but the ground was still hard from winter. It was harrowed, but not furrowed. Another pass would be needed. We all took a break at that point, heading to the house for a drink and to the outhouse for the obvious. It was then, as we were about to resume, that the father asked his son to drive the tractor.

A big smile on his face, my friend climbed up onto the seat, placed one hand in the steering wheel and one on the large gearshift knob. Wrestling it into reverse, he backed that tractor away from the fence line and stopped, planning to turn and pull forward. That's the point when it got stuck in reverse. No matter what he did, he could not get the thing into any forward gear. To be fair, it was an old tractor. It might have happened to anyone. It was just my friend's bad luck it happened as he was about to plow his first set of furrows. His turn was over before he had even gone ten feet.

Farms run on hard work, good tools, and windows of opportunity. It wasn't like they could just quit for the day. Neither the good weather nor the presence of additional farm hands (amateur though we were) could be relied upon. A solution had to be found.

And that's when the farmer had his idea: he would drive the tractor backwards. The sledge would now be in front, so to speak, but the principle was the same: the discs would be pressed into the soil and the field would be tilled. All he had to do was look back over his shoulder as he drove the tractor backwards through the field.

To be fair, it worked pretty well for the first row.

But while backing through the second row, something caused the tractor to swerve. The sledge backed over part of the row he had just finished plowing. He managed to straighten out the tractor, but not before doing more damage to the already completed row.

After the same thing happened twice more, he gave up.

That was the end of plowing, at least for that day. A mechanic was called and we were told, ”You kids go play.” Which we did.

I recalled this incident when I read the words of Jesus in this week’s passage from Luke. His said a person was unfit for the Kingdom of God if they put their hand to the plow and then looked back. It sounded like Jesus was condemning any potential followers who wished to tell their families goodbye. But, did Jesus really say we can't follow him unless we disconnect from our families?

Scholars tell us the language used in that passage should convey the idea of continuously acting. In other words, what Jesus is warning against is someone continually focusing on their previous life while also trying to be His disciple. It just won't work. It would be like trying to plow a field while looking back. You might be able to keep your furrows straight for a short time, but, eventually, it would all end up crooked.

Like trying to plow with a tractor stuck in reverse.


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PHOTO: Beth Stewart

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 8 (13) (June 30, 2019)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=268

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62

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Join us Friday morning at Waco’s @Egg and I” restaurant for DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We start at 8:00 and spend the next hour in fellowship, Bible discussion, and prayer. We eat and laugh, too.

Blessings,
Steve

An Instance of the Fingerpost

An Instance of the Fingerpost
(a brief Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

One of my all time favorite novels is "An Instance of the Fingerpost" by Ian Pears. It combines historical fiction, a compelling murder mystery, and fascinating characters. And, just to keep things interesting, the book is comprised of four different accounts of the "facts" as told by four different characters! Unlike many mysteries where the "reveal" comes at the end, skipping to the end of this book doesn't help; the only way to really understand what happened is to read each of the four accounts. I've never read a book quite like it. It's one of those handful that I re-read every few years.

But, an odd title; right? What, you may be wondering, is a Fingerpost? And to what "Instance" is the author referring? As to the latter, you will need to read the book. I could never explain it, here; and, frankly, I hate spoilers.

As to the Fingerpost: you know this. Really. If not from your own travels, then certainly from fairytales or Saturday morning cartoons. Picture it: the travelers arrive at an intersection of roads. There, at one side, or possibly right in the center, is a post. And on it are narrow boards on which are inscribed the names of towns or other locations. Those boards may just be pointed on one end or they may actually resemble the fingers of a hand with three curled under and one pointing. In any case, these FINGERPOSTS are oriented so that they actually point toward the location inscribed on them.

These Fingerposts are very useful, especially if you are attempting to navigate in an area with which you are not all that familiar. And if they're so useful in the physical world, just think how something like that might help us on our spiritual journey. Well, I believe there ARE spiritual Fingerposts, clear signs placed by God for us to follow.

And this week's Lectionary passages are crammed full of Fingerposts!

Do you want to know what God wants? Well here are only a very few of the many "instances of the Fingerpost" to help you know:

--> In Psalm 15: do what is right, and speak the truth from your heart; do not slander (cast no slur on anyone), do no evil to friends or neighbors; honor those who fear the LORD; do not take a bribe against the innocent.

In The Message, the same passage says: "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe."

-->The James passage clarifies the path we are to take on our spiritual journey: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress."

-->And, finally, from the Deuteronomy passage: be careful to always remember what God has done in your life, even if it was way in the past; and TELL YOUR CHILDREN and THEIR CHILDREN about God in your life.

Some useful signage to think about this week.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 17 (22) (September 2, 2012)

Song of Solomon 2:8-13
Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, b6-9
Psalm 15
James 1:17-27
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23


Join us if you can on Friday morning. As is our practice, we will be at Cafe Cappuccino (downtown Waco, on 6th near the Courthouse) at 8:00 to discuss this week's scripture passages and to scarf down some great food.

Um, we don't have a sign, but look for the raucous group at a horseshoe-shaped table. We'll be at the table right next to them ;-)

Enjoy the week!
Steve