Scott Peck began his well-known book, “The Road Less Traveled,” with these words- LIFE IS DIFFICULT. And indeed it is!
It’s not easy to get through from beginning to end, without tears, or loss, or unpleasant turns in the road. Over the course of time, we become weary and wary, and the dreams that once seemed doable seem more than a bit silly. Almost everyone gathered here this morning has buried a parent and many of us have said goodbye to our siblings. Our old house on Shawnee Place in Des Moines, Iowa was filled with noise and activity at one time. Some of noises were unpleasant, but we shared life there. But now, mom and dad, and my brothers, Larry and Randy, have left the stage and it is empty. In the 12-step world, we talk about living one day at a time, but I've discovered that a terminal cancer diagnosis can immediately rid you of any tendency to live in the future! When we’re down-sized, or let go, we feel smaller that we did before. When the person who swore to walk with you in good times and in bad time, tells you that they’ve found someone else, the road we’ve been traveling together… crumbles before our eyes. When we bury our children, whether they are 5 or 55, the pain is unbearable and it seems like we will never get back on our feet..
Life is difficult, in part, because we’re prone to sin. Our greed, insecurities, and emotions run wild and we end up harming ourselves and many others. Life is also difficult because we can’t control, won’t accept it, and can’t bring ourselves to let go and let God! Life is difficult. Consider Jesus of Nazareth, who was called the “illegitimate” son of a Roman soldier before he reached puberty, challenged by teachers of the very law he was fulfilling, and who heard his people cry, “Crucify him. Give us Barabbas!” And when Jesus asked his best friends to pray for him in Gethsemane’s garden, they fell asleep instead.
Life is difficult. Consider the Israelites who were exiled into Babylon. They were defeated and dejected, wondering how God’s chosen people could end up as losers… when their prophets begin to spread the news that today’s losses, this moment’s pain, our worst memories, most bitter tears… are not the final word! Not in a million years… because all things are possible with God! When God asked Ezekiel if a valley of dry bones could live, the prophet cautiously answered, “You know, Lord.” But the better answer is “of course, they can live because all things are possible for you.” The day is coming, God claimed, when my people will come streaming from every corner of the earth. The strong, of course, but the elderly, the disabled and the little ones too. People of faith, our God is an awesome God... and He will see us through. In Christ we are free to sing a new song...of praise and love forever!
This morning, our hearts are heavy thinking about my cousin, Del, and my friend, Terry- both of whom have cancer, Jim and Pat, closer to 90 than 80 and they both have Covid… and our very good friend, Mike, has suffered a serious stroke and has COVID complications too. Life is difficult now for these wonderful people, and I know that life has been difficult for you as well. I imagine the rocky roads you’ve traveled at one time or another, the deep valleys that you’ve been in, and it gives me grief… BUT I do not despair… because I see the fork in your hands!
Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a woman who was dying of cancer. She was an avid church goer, so she talked with her pastor about her funeral service- and went over every detail- the verses to be read, the songs to be sung, comments and prayers, and even what she would be wearing on her special day. She began to leave the pastor's office, but stopped and said, "There's one more thing. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand. It's odd, I know, but in all of my years of attending church gatherings, my favorite part was the moment when I was told to keep my fork. When our tables were being cleared, someone would lean over and say, 'You can keep your fork!' You can keep your fork- that’s what they said- and it always gave me great delight because I knew that something better was coming. Something great- not pudding or Jello- but am awesome cake or one of my favorite pies. You can keep your fork… has always meant something special to me," she concluded, "And I want to spread the word. Pastor, when people file by my casket and say, "Hey, what's the deal with the fork," I want you to tell them that something much, much better IS coming and that they should keep their forks too! Tell them that the best is yet to come.
The best is yet to come! The best is yet to come! May we bear witness to Christ by the love we show to one another and to others, and may we also witness to the wonderful truth that the best is yet to come… by carrying a fork! I pray that people will recall our ministries fondly, and I pray that we will also be known as a fork-carrying people who believe without a doubt that nothing is too hard for God!
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