Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
He sat in my office, a cup of coffee in his hand, a slight tremor in his little finger. “Tell me pastor, what is the point?”
“What is the point of what?”
“All of it. I just don’t get it. I wake up every morning and it is the same thing over and over again. Things change and things stay the same. None of it seems to make a difference. For years, I helped take care of the kids, but they don’t need me anymore, they are busy with their own kids. I held down a desk job for 34 years and I was good at what I did. But now someone else sits at that desk and I don’t think that anyone at the company would even know my name. I am here now but, in a few years, I will be gone and then what? It won’t be long until I am forgotten altogether. So, I am asking you, what is the point of it all? Why am I am here, why are we here?”
Without hesitation I responded, “Can I get you some more coffee and call Robin in? She handles the tough questions.” We talked for some time. I am not a prophet, I am not a font of wisdom, my divine insight is limited. You are probably thinking, “So what are we paying you for?“ I have been wondering about the same thing for 36 years.
Finally, I pulled out the Bible and read these words: “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Is that a cop out? Maybe, but it was the best I could do. Why are the answers to our philosophical and faith questions so elusive? Do we not all wonder sometimes, what the point is? “Be still and know that I am God.” The implication is that I am NOT God. We must be clear about who we are in this divine experiment on planet earth. We are creatures. Creatures do not understand the master plans, motives and desired outcomes of the Creator of the Universe. “Be still and know that I am God.” We will never understand the mysteries of life and death, of want and plenty, of physics and cosmology.
But what we do know is enough for now. What we do understand should be enough to give us meaning and purpose during our brief journey on Earth. We understand that somehow God needs us in the world. God is not dependent upon our knowledge or insight, God can keep the planets in orbit without us, God can continue the creation of stars and galaxies without our help, but God needs us to do God’s work in the world. What is clear in the Jesus story is enough for now. We are to love as Jesus loved. We are to wake up each morning and give thanks for the gift of a new day. We are to wash feet; we are to hold those who are crying or dying. We are to speak words of forgiveness and compassion and hope. We are to speak out for the powerless and oppressed. We are to love as Jesus loved.
At the end of the day, that might not seem like much. At the end of 80 or 90 years it might seem that our resume is lacking. This I guarantee you, we will die. We may die broke or rich, but we won’t take it with us. We may be forgotten like yesterday’s news, or we may be remembered with a plaque or a statue.
What is the point? I am not sure, but I am not sure that I need to know the role that I play in God’s grand design. What is the point? The point is, we know enough to keep us busy, we know that abundant life in this world is found in serving others, we know what Jesus did and if we seek to follow his lead, then that is enough.
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. The service promises to be memorable. So, come to worship with your TLC Family this Sunday at 8:00 or 10:30.
Not a font of wisdom, just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread,
Pastor Jim
PS: If you would like to respond directly to Pastor Jim, please email [email protected].
