April 27, 2008
Rev. Patricia L. Liberty
Most of What I Need to Know…
A local nursing and rehabilitation facility has become home to a friend of ours who is no longer able to live on her own. She has no family, so a small group of us from church have looked after her for years. Her days now are clouded with confusion; she is occasionally ornery and at times withdrawn, and often disoriented as to time and place. She usually knows who we are, if for no other reason than that we do her laundry, bring her coffee milkshakes and, perhaps most importantly are the humans who belonged to Pearl. Pearl was our black shaggy loveable mutt who made weekly visits with us to Bertie. Yesterday, she asked, as she does every week, where’s Pearl? Pearl has been gone for a while now, but I think Bertie remembers Pearl better than she does us.
Pearl would make a beeline for the bed as soon as she entered the room and no matter what kind of a mood Bertie might be in, Pearl never failed to bring a smile. Toward the end, Pearl was too old to climb up on the bed on her own, so Bertie would say, “Put her up here with me, I know it’s against the rules but I don’t care.” Truthfully I didn’t either. Pearl would snuggle up against her and it seemed they would both smile from ear to ear.
I don’t know what it is about dogs, but they evoke such a positive response. When I worked at the hospital we had a number of Therapy dogs that visited on the oncology and post surgical floors and the hospital was definitely a happier place on those days. Therapy Dogs International has certified over 4500 pet partners who provide services to over 350,000 patients per year. Whatever it is, we know that dogs demonstrate loyalty and obedience, and offer comfort and a sense of well-being.
Comfort and well being are universal human needs. If you don’t think so consider this: each year Americans spend billions of dollars a year on comfort food; premium ice cream, microwavable foods like macaroni and cheese, not to mention chocolate, alcohol, natural remedies, exercise equipment and prescription medication all promising to bring relief from stress, comfort and no less than complete transformation to one’s life. In my own personal experience the only thing Ben and Jerry’s transformed is my waistline.
Every day there are new gimmicks that promise to tweak our troubled lives and give our days a renewed sense of purpose. Tele-evangelists, spiritual healers, and gurus of various stripes round out the countless miracle cures available for our comfort and edification.
It is endemic to the human experience; in times of stress and distress, moments of meaninglessness and insecurity we seek comfort. It’s part of what it means to be human.
It was precisely this stress and insecurity that gripped the disciples as they anticipated Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Our gospel today picks up where we left off last week, continuing Jesus’ farewell discourse, set in the context of the last supper.
Last week’s message was an admonition to remember who they were, the unique identity that was there as God’s beloved called to God’s purpose. This week’s message is the counterpart; Jesus admonishes them to remember not only who they are but also WHOSE they are, and John makes the connection between love and obedience as central to the life of discipleship. This obedience is not to be understood as blind observance of rules and laws, but a relationship of trust and joy that is enlivened by the presence of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus says will come to comfort them in his absence.
The Greek word is paraclete and it means comforter. It is the same root from which we get our word paramedic. Para is used as a prefix to denote someone who helps another in a particular way. The paraclete, the Holy Spirit is promised as a helper to those who love Jesus and keep his commandments.
Jesus words are reassuring and encouraging, but also profoundly theological. He addresses the pastoral needs of the disciples not by analyzing the shaky situation and telling them to buck up, but by promising the permanence of divine presence. And as Jesus admonished his followers last week to keep on doing the works of faith and love, this week he promises the strength and presence of God to help.
And it is here that the connection is made between love and obedience.
If you love me, keep my commandments, then comes the promise of comfort, the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.
This morning I’d like to take a light hearted look at what it means to be Godly, by thinking about the things I have learned from Pearl and our regular romps in the Nursing Home. While Robert Fulghum may have learned what he needed to know in Kindergarten, much of I what I need to know I have learned from my dog. Here are a few lessons from dogdom that have taught me something about the kingdom, faithfulness and discipleship. Canine candy stripers….
Bark with your buddies. Barking is an act of community. When a dog barks, dogs in the distance answer. Barking says we’re all in this together. As we become more isolated from each other because of busy-ness, competition, “improved” electronic communication that conveys words but fails to provide human contact, getting together and being in community is important.
There’s a reason worship is central to a life of faithfulness, we are created to live in community. Yes, we can pray on our own, connect with God in the mountains on the water and on the golf course, but there is no substitute for corporate worship; singing praise together, praying for one another and greeting one another in the spirit and love of Christ. Part of being a follower of Jesus Christ means gathering regularly for the encouragement of fellowship.
Greet loved ones with wagging tail. Nothing is more important than feeling loved and there’s not creature on the planet that does it better than a dog. One of the things I miss the most about Pearl is that no matter how big a jerk I may have been on any given day, when I walked in the door Pearl was happy to see me and ready to give me a slurp. She reminded me that unconditional love is a beautiful thing and that I have a long way to go before I am even close. Dogs remind us that loyalty is a good thing. Loyalty has fallen on hard times in our fickle culture as we are sometimes quick to trade in our friends, jobs, churches and spouses when the going gets tough, but loyalty it is a critical element of discipleship. In Christ we are invited to a new relationship for a lifetime; not for a season, not for a time but for all time. And like all relationships, ours with God knows seasons, as the disciples anticipated tough times, Jesus reminds them and us, that we continue to belong to God.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. You know how dogs eat, slobber flying everywhere, chasing the dish across the floor to get every last morsel. Twice a day Pearl would jump around and bark and couldn’t wait to dive into the dish. Watching a dog at mealtime is a great reminder that that eating is a celebration of life.
Breaking bread together is holy. To nourish the body is not a chore, but a sacrament.
There is a reason the writer of John’s Gospel puts Jesus’ final words and instructions to his disciples in the context of a meal; because eating together is holy. Eating together is deeply intimate, barriers are broken down, relationships are renewed and strengthened, and friendships are born and strengthened. Eat with gusto, joy all the flavors and spices of creation.
It is also a reminder of the basic need that all have for nourishment. In this troubled world economy it is frightening to think that a basic commodity like rice, a staple for millions of the poorest of the poor is becoming more and more expensive. Riots in Haiti and other places around the world, and the increased numbers at our own meal sites and food pantries is not just a social tragedy but a defining moment God’s people. Each week the food that many of you bring and others faithfully take to the pantries in our town, our presence at Bread for Life is all that stands between people and growing hunger right here in our own community.
Run, romp and play daily. Physical exercise is as important for the soul as it is for the body. Pearl was absolutely unabashed in her demand for daily exercise and attention. She would sit at the door and bark until one of us went outside to throw the disgusting tennis ball that was her constant companion. Or she would look at the leash and bark. Through the years I’ve had a lot of pets; dogs, horses, cats, goats, chickens you name it. Caring for them is was always a welcome discipline and a reminder of how important it is to tend to physical needs. Think about it, when Jesus tells the disciples the Holy Spirit will come to them as a comforter, he means to them as human beings. It’s good for us to think about what kind of welcome mat we are putting out.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your tail. Thankfulness and celebration are powerful dynamics for healthy living. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that helps us affirm the essential goodness of life.
Even when adversity strikes, gratitude helps us maintain our perspective and carry us through the low moments. Pear reminded me to cultivate gratitude through the simple things. In the grand scheme of things she didn’t ask for much, a few minutes of my undivided attention, a short walk a couple times a day, decent food, a safe dry place to sleep and she was happy.
Learn to be present. At the Nursing Home Pearl would visit with other residents and was different with each of them. If a person was playful she would be too, if they were withdrawn she would quietly sit down beside them.
Watching a therapy dog work reminds me of the value of sitting close by and being present. I may have said this before, but one of the most valuable things I learned in seminary is, “when you don’t know what to say for God’s sake shut up.”
This is a challenging and complicated life we all lead and there is no doubt that we are in need of comfort and encouragement. All joking aside, Jesus means business with the promise of Holy Spirit. And it’s not a feel good, make it all better kind of schmaltzy thing, it is nothing less than the very presence of God to, as the old hymn says, to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and hope for tomorrow, a companion presence to nurture us as we seek to be faithful in our daily lives.
Finally, when you choose to surround yourself with lives even more fragile than your own you learn that time is fleeting and life is precious. Pearl passed from our keeping to God’s a bit ago, taking her place with the canine, equine and other critter companions who have graced my life through the years.
The truth is that each is filled is filled with opportunities and invitations to that make the difference between merely existing and truly living. The way of faithfulness is left in the foot prints we leave on each day and as the familiar Footprints saying reminds us whether there are two sets or one, this gift, this comfort, this Paraclete is God’s gift to us, with us and for us.