Welcoming Grace, Words of Love for All. Kurt Jacobson
it to say that the greater learning in this story is how God responds when we get in trouble.
This is precisely the claim of Scripture today: That God - the One who created us, knows us and watches over us responds in times of trouble and uncertainty.
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve have just eaten from the tree of the forbidden fruit - eaten what they weren't supposed to.
God had given very specific instructions to leave that tree alone, and if they did eat from it, they would immediately die. So after eating, they withdrew and hid in the trees. They knew they did wrong. They feared big trouble was headed their way. So they hid.
God, in the meantime the Bible tells us, is out in the garden taking a walk and enjoying the trees in the evening breeze. God created the trees specifically to enjoy their beauty, we learn in a previous verse. I like to picture God enjoying this evening stroll and to make the evening even more pleasant, God looks for that man and woman who had been created to enjoy the garden too. But on this evening, the pair isn't out enjoying the creation. They've gotten into to trouble, big time, and now they're hiding from God who told them not to eat of that tree.
God calls out to Adam, "Where are you?" That's it, "Where are you?"
Of course, God knew where they were. Of course, God knew exactly what tree they were hiding behind. God had created these two humans with God's own hands. They were God's children. It bothered God that Adam and Eve had been disobedient, and so God went looking for them.
Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I was in trouble as a kid, my mother never just said, "Where are you?"
But with Adam and Eve, God simply calls, "Where are you?"
There's no threat, no demands, no anger expressed. Nothing more forthcoming but the simple question, "Where are you?"
God doesn't step into Adam's trouble and berate, accuse or sentence. But God also doesn't come in with some big miracle and instantaneously right a wrong situation, either.
All God did was to help them know where they were. God said, "Where are you? Stop for a minute and look at where you are, Adam, and what has just happened."
God gently gave them a place to start, in their going from a position of trouble and helplessness, to one of wholeness.
What marvelous examples today for us, this Adam and Eve - for those times when we get in trouble. During those times when we get confused and mixed up. When we withdraw into hiding like Adam. Times when we don't know what to do. During those times when we are at a loss to figure out what the problem is that got us into such dire straits.
Remember God's words to Adam, "Where are you?"
We are God's children. God made each one of us. God cares when we get ourselves into messes. Like a good and loving parent, God wants to help us in such a way so we can figure out how we got into trouble. God wants to help us in such a way that we don't make the same mistake again and again. That's how God helps us.
Finally, what is the outcome of God's assistance? It's getting on with business. Simply that. In the case of Adam and Eve, nothing miraculous came of God's help. God provided them clothes so they wouldn't have to be embarrassed in their nakedness. God enabled them to get back to the business of living.
Of course, they had to move to another neighborhood. God helped them even in that, and they continued on. In the same way God wants to help us, only insomuch as it will help us to get on with our lives.
God knows we have families, duties, jobs and dreams. God knows we don't like to spend our entire life wallowing in a state of confusion or despair or trouble.
That's why when God sees us in trouble, God says, "Where are you, Kurt?" "Where are you, Chris, Tom, Nancy?" "Where are you my child?"
Friends, God knows we get in trouble. It's part of life. But even better, God wants to help us see our way out of our trouble.
Remember that. And may God give to each of us, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, to see us through our difficulties and towards peace and wholeness with God and each other.
Amen.
***
Drawing Lines
October 15, 1995
Pentecost 19/C
Luke 16:19-31
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.”
But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.”
He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.”
Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.”
He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”
He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
Dear Sisters and Brothers;
Grace and peace be with you all.
The story is told of a hitchhiker picked up one day out on the road. As he got into the car, the driver squealed the tires, pulling back into traffic. The hitchhiker was startled but didn’t say anything. A little way down the road, the hitchhiker glanced over at the speedometer and was shocked. Breaking his silence, he exclaimed, “Wow, you’re going 67 in a 35 mph zone.”
The driver responded casually, “Don’t worry, God is with us.”
They continued zipping through an intersection, not slowing a bit.
“Hey! You just ran that stop sign!”
The reply, “Don’t worry; God is with us.”
Finally, after taking a corner on two wheels, the hitchhiker shouted, “Stop the car!”
“Why? Didn’t I tell you? God is with us.”
“Yeah, I know,” the hitchhiker shot back. “Stop the car anyway, “God and I want to get out!”
Have you ever spent much time trying to figure out what makes people tick? What motivates certain behaviors?
Throughout human history, scientists have been trying to figure us out. Some have come up with theories. You’ve heard of them.
Eugene Skinner believed our behavior was motivated by the desire to experience pleasure over pain. Sigmund Freud believed that sex was the driving force behind all we do. Economists believe that it is money, and our desire to have it, that lies at the root of all human activity.
There is one branch of human thought among some behavioral psychologists that suggests all our actions and all our motivations grow out of one desire - the need to establish and protect our own territory.
Now think about that - we all have our territories. I recall in college studying about the space bubble - that invisible bubble around our bodies that defines for us the distance we keep when in contact with another person.
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