wpc

“Old Souls/New Shoes-Intrusion!”

Romans 8:28-39

The Reverend Chris Adams

Westminster Presbyterian Church

March 7, 2010

 So we HAD this great location planned for a playground...

If you have been here over the last few weeks and even months, you know that a generous gift was given to the church for a playground and a committee has been working with our Session to install such a playground.  It is designed for our youngest disciples, ages 3 through 7.

Did you know we have almost 30 children now in that age group?  Wow, amazing what God is doing in sending us such young souls for us to care for and disciple.

I have been a little nervous through this whole playground process to be honest with you.  I would like to tell you I had it all figured out, and knew exactly how all this was going to work out, but that would not be honest.

In fact, the others and I working on this project made our plans and have tried our level best to stay with those plans.  We wanted to see this thing through, no matter what.  After all, the others and I believed this playground is important.

You see, it’s more than just metal and plastic that children can have fun on.  It’s a symbol of sorts that Westminster church wants children and their families to call this their church home.  This playground is a way for young children to get their first glimpse of Loving God, Loving Life and Loving their Neighbors.

Maybe you don’t see it that way, that’s okay.  But those that have offered themselves and countless hours of work and meetings definitely see it that way.  That’s why this has been so important.

So as I said, we HAD this great location picked out for this important part of our ministry for the future of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Well then, as part of the last details of our plan, we had our utility companies come out and mark the lines to be sure we didn’t hit anything when we went to digging.  We wanted the utilities to come out earlier in the planning process, but they won’t come out until you have an install date.

By the way, the playground is to be installed on the 22nd of this month; just couple weeks away.

So Thursday they came and marked.  The area we had picked out was this little courtyard area in between the nursery and the sanctuary.  I won’t get into all the reasons why the committee and I believed that was the best area, but that’s the area.

Well, on Thursday we learned that the main power line to the whole campus runs right through that area.  Okay.  Then we learned that the main phone line runs three feet over from that, right in the middle of that area, and the main water line to the campus runs three feet over from there.

On Thursday night, I was here after hours staring at the little red and orange flags that marked the end of our plans.  After months and months of work.  When everybody else said this location was the wrong one and the committee stuck to the plans they believed were the right ones.  Again, you can disagree with that, but I can tell you those decisions were made in good faith and with the best of intentions.

And I thought, now what?  How could we come this far to be turned back now?  How could this be what you have planned for us Lord?  It’s a lonely feeling to think that all the plans you have made are falling apart.  Have you ever been there?

Then I realized something very important.  God never leaves us.  If we find that we are out of step with something, then more often than not, it’s us that is out of step and never God.  God may have a different plan, and our job is to ask one simple question.  Where are you in the middle of this God?

Now some of you might be thinking, “Why would God care where the playground goes?”  You’re probably right.  But I do believe God cares when people offer themselves for something they believe to be important and meaningful for the future of our church.

Again I was asking, “Where are you in the middle of all this God?”

Well, it seems God has a different plan.  So we met and we made phone calls and we asked questions.  We got quotes and we reconfigured, and by Friday at noon the whole thing had morphed and we have a new location.  In fact, the more I considered it, the more I came to believe that this is a better location.

Now our children’s playground will be in the North Corner next to the Activity Center and our Sunday school rooms.  There are no wires, no pipes, not even a sprinkler to be seen.  And it seems more of us are happy about that location.

The point is, when I remembered that my plans are always secondary to what God has in mind for me.  When I remembered to ask the right question, “God, where are you in the midst of all this?” then everything was okay.

The truth is, it wasn’t about location or wires or pipes at all.  It is that feeling of loneliness a person can get when everything they thought was right is being changed.  It’s the grief of thinking you have come so far only to be turned back.

The moral of the story is that later this month a new playground will ground our ministry with children and their families here at Westminster, and it will be in exactly the right place.  I believe that and it’s a great thing for our church.

Some of you are thinking, okay preacher what does any of this have to do with Old Souls and New Shoes.  I thought we were talking about the Spirituality of Aging today.  Remember that sermon series you are supposed to be preaching.  Yes, I remember.

During the last two Sundays, I have introduced the concept that life is about transition times and stable periods, even later in life.

The first transition an older adult goes through is retirement.  It’s a gateway to the rest of life transitioning from work, children and a part of life to another part of life.  We said that it’s an exciting transition.

Then last week we talked about “extended middle age,” when retired people discover how they will spend their time.  We remembered the work of people like Grandma Moses and my friend Martha from Boaz & Ruth.  The idea was that life could be about realizing hopes and dreams that were never possible before.  It can be the best part of life.

Well today is another transition.  Today, I want to talk to you about your plans and what happens to those plans when intrusion occurs.

You see, as a pastor, I have seen this many times.  People make their plans for how they will live life in retirement.  Maybe they are playing golf more than before, maybe they are refocusing on ministry and service to God and church, but whatever they are doing they are making plans.

Then it happens.  Sometimes it is unexpected, and sometimes it comes over time, but a crisis occurs.  I did my weekly video update this week from the parking lot in front of Blake Hospital Emergency Room.  That’s the place where I have seen plans come to an end.

People stand there and look at the little flags that mark the end of their ideas for how they were going to live their lives.  And they think, now what?  How could we come this far to be turned back now?  How could this be what you have planned for us Lord?  It’s a lonely feeling to think that all the plans you have made are falling apart.  Have you ever been there?

This is that transition period that comes when older adults reach a point of intrusion.  Maybe it’s a health concern or maybe it’s the loss of a spouse?  Maybe it’s the loss of mobility or pain or a whole host of other things that over time change what we had in mind.

It’s incredibly painful, this transition.  In fact, it’s as painful as the transition to retirement is exciting.  I have seen it in too many...

But friends, I believe that periods of such transition, the times when things are falling apart is the exact time when faith makes the most difference.  These are the times when asking for God’s presence in the midst of tragedy and struggle mean the most.

This is the time, again I believe, when it is the church that must help people ask one simple question.  This is the times when you and I are to help people remember the goodness of God.

This is the time when the truth of Paul’s words written here to the church in Corinth make the most sense.  God works all things for good for those that love him.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Not even ourselves.

You see, many times when we are feeling lonely and lost, believing that our plans have come crumbling down around us, that is the exact time when we must remember that it is our leaving God and not God leaving us that causes those feelings.   

The point is, when we remember that our plans are always secondary to what God has in mind for us.  When we remember to ask the right question, “God, where are you in the midst of all this?” then we begin to make some sense out of it all.

Now I don’t minimize the pain and loss that comes from such a transition.  To lose a lifelong friend in your spouse or to suddenly be in a wheelchair or something is not easy by any stretch.  However the truth is, our feelings about that are often not about losing a person, even a part of ourselves at all.  Instead it’s really that feeling of loneliness a person can get when everything they thought was right is being changed.  It’s the grief of thinking you have come so far only to be turned back.

Friends, if you are suffering from such a transition, or will someday, then I believe it is our job as a church of Jesus Christ to help you remember that God has good things in store for your life.  They may be different things than you had planned for, but if you open yourself to God again, then you will discover good things.  I believe that.  I really do.

Looking for God in the midst of tragedy and loss by definition makes us more than conquerors.  Looking for God in the midst of our plans falling short gives us new life.

In a way, I am glad to have gone through this past week of changing plans and frustrating decisions.  Not that I enjoyed it; in fact, someone said they weren’t sure I was going to make it.  I am glad because in all this I believe I am closer to my Lord.

In the coming weeks and months, I just know I will be again staring at the flags marking changes I didn’t plan for, and many times I will be standing next to you when I see them.  In fact, those flags will belong to you and to the changes many of you that are aging will face.

I won’t have the answers to tell you how to get through it.  I can’t give you a pep talk and tell you it’s going to be all right.  But what I can do is to point you to the Almighty God.  I can tell you that He intends good things for you, and that nothing can separate you from the goodness that God has in mind.  We can ask the question, “Lord where are you?”

So we HAD this great life planned for the way we wanted to live...  but then we learned about the life the Lord HAD in mind for us to live.

Thanks be to God.  Amen.