050918

September 18, 2005

by Rev. James K Farrell

This is the first real opportunity that I have had to share with you some of the realities of the sabbatical that I was on in April, May and June. Part of me would have liked to bring you all with me on some of the journey through my sabbatical, of course another part of me quickly interrupted those thoughts with the question, “would you take bears to a picnic?”

Today, I thought I could at least, by way of a video, bring you along with me on the journey that took me to the Redwoods this past April. I mentioned before going that I wanted to make that trek to the trees as part of a personal spiritual quest that I have been hoping to make for years. I also mentioned that I would probably have some images for you after the trip…and since this is the only way I could get you all in my little car I hope you won’t mind sitting through about 8 minutes of that journey.

The video…

I know that the idea of a sabbatical doesn’t sit well with everyone. Some think… “I have worked all my life without a sabbatical why would I want to send my minister on one.” Others have said, “yours is a different kind of job and it is important for you to get a refresher if you are going to ‘be there’ for us in a meaningful way.”

Both views are honest and the text for today from Matthew captures the dilemma of what’s fair in life. Like the workers who only worked the last part of the day must have felt, I feel very thankful for the time I had to reflect and muse about what gives me energy to help me help you.

Some of that was captured, I hope in the images and music you just experienced. The simple truth is that we don’t journey alone. I took you with me whether you know it or not. And you kept me with you as you pulled together to exercise your gifts and be a great self-supporting congregation even if one of the ministers wasn’t here. Some have said, “James you would be proud of how we pulled together this spring and summer when you weren’t here” and I certainly am proud of the work and witness that everyone participated in.

I think our congregation is stronger for the sabbatical experience. The services I have listened to of our folks offering their stories, their talents and their hearts “to” and “within” this congregation are wonderful testimonies of the work of God in your lives and the gifts that you offer each other.

Just as the last shall be first and the first shall be last, Nobody Makes The Journey Alone. We all benefit by the gifts of all and we all hurt through the hurts of all.

Allow me to share a story with you.

A Mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package.

"What food might this contain?" he wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. "There is a mousetrap in the house! there is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house". The pig sympathized but said, "I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow. She said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse, I'm sorry for you. But it's no skin off my nose".

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

When you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it doesn't concern you, remember that when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye open for one another and be willing to make that extra effort to encourage one another.

The parable today is a parable of Grace…God's Grace extended to all of us equally even if we can’t see it. Nobody makes the journey alone.

The trips and reflection and study that I did on sabbatical and the work and witness that you did on that same sabbatical are investments in our common future. It may appear, on occasion, that those bits are not connected, but on closer examination and as time has a way of bearing out, we are all very much on the same journey and the gifts that one receives, all receive. Amen.