Be Ready

Below is the sermon by Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert from Lake Merritt United Methodist church, in Oakland, CA - I just wanted to share with you the message...

Be Ready

Isaiah 40:1-11
Mark 1:1-8
by: Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert

"Prepare the Way of the Lord"

The prophet Isaiah said it this way: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."

Hundreds of years later, John the Baptist - who arrives out of the wilderness into the scriptures of Advent each years - said it this way, quoting Isaiah: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him."

This Advent season, you are invited to "be." Not simply to "do," because most of us know how to "do" things. Instead, to "be."

The Greek sea god, Proteus, was (like the sea) capable of changing form in an instant. In order to get any decent information out of him, you had to grab him and hold on tight while he went through his various forms - lion, wild boar, snake, tree, running stream - it wasn't easy. The verb "To be" is said to be the most protean of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. Considering that we use it so often, it is really too bad that the verb "To be" has to be the most irregular, slippery verb in the language.
And today you are invited to "be ready." How do you "be ready"?

A story: "While on one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton left some of his sailors on Elephant Island with the intent of returning for them and taking them back to England. He was delayed. By the time Shakleton and his ship returned, the sea had frozen and he had no access to Elephant Island. Three times he tried to reach them, prevented by the ice from succeeding. Finally, on his fourth try, he broke through the ice and navigated a narrow channel to save the men.When he arrived at Elephant Island, he was surprised to find the crew waiting for him, supplies packed and ready to board. They were soon on their way back to England. He asked them how they had known to be ready for them. They told him they hadn't known when he would return, but they was sure he would return for them. Every morning, the leader rolled up his bag and packed his gear and told the crew to do the same, saying, "Get your things ready, boys. The boss is coming today."

As I thought about this scripture, I remember in my own life the time before I left the Midwest to come to seminary here in California. I knew I was starting a new life, and I didn't know what that life would hold for me. I expected to return to Wisconsin - God willing - but I didn't know when. So I spent time thinking about my life and the relationships I was leaving, for the time being, in the Midwest. I remember having certain conversations with friends, clearing up misunderstandings, and saying "I'm sorry," or "I'm glad you are my friend." In a sense, I reviewed my life as I began my new life.

Who among us knows when this life - the life we are living now - may end? Who among us knows when we will draw our last breath? As people, we always face the possibility of death, and to "be ready" for death - to meet our Maker, in the old expression - we would do well to take time to look at our life and our relationships, to "be ready"?

Are you treating those you love as you want to treat them? Are you demanding, when you could be accepting? Are you allowing others to be who they are? Including your children? Are you accepting of those around you, forgiving them for their foibles, their humanity, and forgiving yourself, as well? If you left here today and couldn't say another "good bye," are your relationships in the place you want them to be?

Are you living the life you want to be living, or are you always "saving for a rainy day"? Have you put off saying "I love you, "out of pride or fear? Is there a relationship you know has not been good for a long time, and you have been afraid to leave? Be Ready.

As people, we live as if there will always be tomorrow. On another level, we know that may not be so. When we live that way, we live in denial of the reality of life - and death.

If you are going through difficult times this holiday season, remember to Be Ready. Be Ready for the return of the Light in the Darkness. Those in faith know that the light is already present, is already here, and we must ready ourselves, throw off our barriers and our resistances, to let the Light in.

Be Ready implies a sure-ness, a trust in God's goodness. Be Ready implies that when you offer your prayer to God - it is surely heard and is already being answered.

As people of faith, we can practice the Advent message of "Be Ready" by holding the sure and solid hope that all things are well. However things look on the surface, if God is active in this world, if God is surely present even in the most difficult of times, then we can be joyful and trusting and hopeful - in a word, ready - no matter how things may look to us.

Sometimes our attitude towards things is surprising. We can speak eloquently about our faith, but we groan about everything else. The two don't go together. I'm sure many of us remember the 1980's, when it was popular to spend years in therapy complaining and lamenting the dysfunctional families we grew up in. And trust me - we all did, to some degree! But there comes a time in life when we need to get over these things, and live into the lives we were meant to give. There comes a time when we can say: "yes, I had it tough, but now I'm an adult, and I can make my own life as I choose."

Several weeks ago I attended a service where people were invited to move ahead in their lives, to live into the change and the new-ness they desired. One woman spoke up: "but I had such a difficult childhood, I was so abused, and I spent so many years as an addict. Now, when I try to move ahead, I am filled with oceans and oceans of anger." The leader listened, and then responded: "so you've quantified your anger. You could have made it little, but you've made it big. It's time to move into your new life."

Be Ready. Whoever you are, whatever is happening in your life today, be ready. Live the life you were meant to live. Live with the sure hope and trust that God is shaping you and your life and the life of the world exactly as it is meant to be.

Be Ready.