(prayer)
When I was a teenager, I
was a self-admited math and science geek.
I thrived on recognizing
patterns. I enjoyed the challenge of
logic puzzles (and the like).
And so, I was the perfect
candidate for the Rubiks Cube when it first became popular in the early 1980s -
that six-sided, 36-panelled, multi-colored, three-dimensional puzzle. The goal was simple: twist it and turn it
until the nine panels on each side was made up of the same colours.
A logical quick look
identified that the middle square never moved, so, that told me what colour
each side needed. The same logic told me
which three coloured pieces were needed in each corner and which two coloured
pieces were needed on each side.
With the Rubiks Cube, there
is only one solution. Each of the 26
pieces has only one correct final location.
Not entirely true because I
understand that the middle squares can rotate, so maybe there are about 4100
'correct' solutions among the 43 quintillion possible configurations. Still pretty long odds.
//
Sadly, the best I ever did
was to be able to get one side all one colour.
Of course, a keen eye would see that although the colours were right,
the position of several of the pieces were wrong.
I had fellow puzzle geek
friends who claimed to have solved it.
Other than those that just removed and replaced the stickers, likely
were able to learn the basic moves that could put specific pieces in specific
pieces. Although, I don't think I knew
no one who figured it out on their own.
Each of them picked up techniques from someone else.
Now-a-days, there are
thousands of on-line videos that can teach anyone the basic moves.
There are even on-line
programs that - if you enter the exact configuration you are starting with - it
will tell you what moves you need to make to solve it.
Apparently, you need at
least twenty moves to solve the cube depending on how mixed up it is.
The current world speed
record for solving a lubricated Rubiks Cube (that has been mixed up with 40
random moves) is... 4.904seconds
- by 14 year old Lucas Etter last November (2015).
Not to outdone, a specially
built computer-controlled robot did it in less than onesecond
this past February.
Myself, thirty years ago, I
never found the energy to learn how to completely solve a Rubiks Cube.
There is no reason why I
couldn't have done it. As I said I had
friends at the time who could have taught me the moves.
And if I wanted to do it
today, I could study the internet and learn what is needed.
But in either case, I would
know that "I" did not - in fact - figure out the solution on my own.
I have to admit that I have
given up on ever doing that.
I've moved on to other
challenges over the years.
//
//
At a theoretical level,
what is so bad with not being able to do something all on my own?
What is wrong with
realizing that I can benefit from the wisdom and support of others?
In most of life, there is
almost nothing that can be claimed as a purely individual achievement. Our efforts and motivations are central and
perhaps the most impactful aspects of what we are able to achieve, but who
among us cannot find the truth that it had taken
a village to raise the child we are.
The advancement of
virtually every form of science, art and culture relies on where others have
been. This is necessary for new and
deeper discoveries.
If each of us was forced to
start from scratch, no one would ever build a better mousetrap.
Who we are (and who we can
become) is a combination of our own determination and the encouraging wisdom
passed on to us from others through their learnings and example.
//
We see these two aspects of
achievement within the two scripture readings from today:
- individual determination is
highlighted in the words from Isaiah... and yet we also see that there is a
desire to give up when those efforts appear fruitless;
- the Hebrews Letter flips the script
and invites us - in that time of discouragement - to be encouraged by
appreciating the strength we can draw from the example and inspiration of
others.
//
This will be a theme that
we will see coming up again and again in the pre-set scripture readings
(Revised Common Lectionary) that we will explore over the coming weeks.
Ane, we will profess this
theme again in the words of the United Church Creed as we gather around the
communion table in a few minutes:
We
are not alone!
//
The tender of the vines in Isaiah plans for the vineyard's success
based on the common wisdom of vinetenders of the past who learned how to maximize
the quality of the grapes, and therefore the quality of the wine they hope to
produce:
·
Rich
hillside soil is chosen.
·
High
quality ('choice') vines are planted.
·
The
plants are protected from predators with a hedge wall.
·
And,
even if something manages to threaten the vines, someone will be up in a
watchtower to react quickly. From the
watch tower, any sign of unhealthy plants will be seen early enough to prune or
fertilize as necessary to heal the vines.
·
So
confident is the grape farmer that the grapes would be excellent that a wine
vat is preemptively built ready for the expected bumper harvest.
And yet, in spite all of
these efforts, the grapes are of no better quality than what could be found
growing out in the wild.
In other words, none of the
extraordinary efforts made a difference in the final product.
What went wrong?
Was it the soil?
Was it the plants?
Did some disease or
predator escape the farmer's notice?
What more could have the
farmer had done? The harvest should have
been better. But it wasn't - a
discouraging result.
Discouragement leads to
anger. "I'm going to tear it all
down!"
//
//
The greater truth is that -
in spite of our honest best efforts, seldom can we control every factor.
Our best hopes and desires
are not always realized.
And this can lead to a
feeling of helplessness, Discouragement,
sadness... even anger.
//
How will react?
Can we be blamed for
wanting to give up?
//
Isaiah portrays a desire to
give up. I'm going to tear it all down.
//
Hebrews invites us to appreciate
that - even when discouraged - hope might still be in our midst.
//
//
The precise context of
Isaiah is that the prophet is questioning the quality of the people's faith -
in spite of all that God has done for them.
The early sections of the book of Isaiah come from a very prosperous
time in Israel's history. The prophet
was concerned that the people were not appreciating the holiness that surrounds
their lives.
Happens sometimes - when we
are full of our own achievements, God's presence can be forgotten. The Masters of their own destiny, need no
other master.
Isaiah wants his audience
to put themselves in God's shoes, to see things from a divine perspective.
Could they fault God if God
wanted to give up?
//
The precise context of the
Hebrews letter (as I noted last week) was a struggle within a particular
segment of the early Christian movement as to how they should move forward in
light of their traditions and connections to the wider society. They were questioning what they believed
about Jesus and... further, they openly wondered whether they should abandon
the movement entirely and return to the old established way of thinking.
The author wants the
audience to take a step back and look at the grand examples of the past when
people persevered through discouraging times.
S/he wants the church to imagine being surrounded by the encouraging
spirits of all of those who held strong to their faith - that (in a real way)
helped bring the hebrews [audience]
to this point in history.
"Carry on that tradition.
Don't be the generation
that gives up."
//
//
//
Each of us has our own
histories with discouragement and the times when we have faced whether it is a
good use of our energy and effort to continue trying or to refocus our lives in
a new direction.
Giving up something that is
life-draining in favour of something else for fulfilling is almost always a
good move for us.
These hard decisions are
often ones that are founded in great strength, not weakness.
//
The context of today's
bible lessons speak specifically to how encouraging we are finding our lives of
faith.
//
A common example of
spiritual discouragement comes when we are facing difficulty in life and feel
helpless to change it. We may profess
that it is up to God to make it all better for us.
We may even fall prey to
theologies that say 'if we pray hard enough' or 'we follow some prescribed
ritual to a T' we will unlock God's ability and willingness to just make our
difficulties disappear. I plan to be speaking more about this topic
in about a month... during the September 18th Sunday service. Preview:
I don't think God works that way.
//
//
Isaiah invited the people
of Israel to see how God would be justified on giving up on the people. And yet the overarching theme of the
covenantal history of the First [Old] Testament is that God remains faithful
even when the people are not.
As justified that God might
be to just give up, God doesn't.
//
The Hebrews letter builds
on that old story and sought to
remind the church that they are not alone in their struggles. They are invited to draw strength from a
great cloud of encouraging witnesses.
//
Both passages today can
serve as reminders to us that God's style may not be to just fix or eliminate
our problems, but is to accompany us in (and through) difficult and
discouraging times.
The most faithful act we
can do is to not try and control God, but to accept that God is our companion
on the journey of this life... the easy road and the hard way.
//
It may not feel like it is
enough sometimes... but the promise from our faith history is that God does not tear it all down and abandon us in the
fruitless vineyard, but that God buoys us up in all times... even when it is
hard for us to appreciate it.
//
//
The 'cloud of witnesses' is
not made up only of those of the past who have learned the ultimate truth of
God's accompanying presence, but also includes the fellow travellers on the
road with us right now.
The person beside you right
now is part of your supportive cloud of witnesses. And you are that for them!
//
//
We will tangibly live out
this when - in a few minutes we come to one table and share in a common meal.
Just as a common loaf and a
common cup will offer us physical nourishment, we are connected in the
spiritual nourishment we share as a people of God.
We
are not alone.
We
live in God's world.
In
life, in death,
in
life beyond death,
we
are not alone.
Thanks
be to God.
//
Let us pray:
Holy God, when we are engulfed by fear
and worry, remind us that we are not alone. Amen.
***offering***
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