Sunday, June 17, 2012

Peace in the Valley


I couldn't figure out which scripture passage to preach on this morning. I had several good ones to choose from thanks to the lectionary. So I went for a drive. I got in my car, rolled the windows down, turned up the radio, and drove. I drove down to Scott's Store and bought a coke and candy bar. I took a left and drove down Canterbury, took right and cruised down Rose Mount. I looked at all the farmland and the crops that were growing. I noticed how at one time there was not a paved road and how one needed to be made. I noticed how at one time the land was dried up and dead and slowly with each passing month it turned from brown and dirt to green and purple to a light brown ready to harvest. I noticed the cornstalks and how quickly they sprung up and how they might rival the cornstalks of Nebraska. I passed a broken down motorist getting help on her car and wondered if I pulled over to help would that be one too many people standing on the side of the road? I was tailgated by an anxious driver behind me whose expression changed when I turned into the church. A simple drive to get my mind to focus.

I drove by houses big and small. I drove by land that was rich and full of crop. I drove by land that was empty and barren. I started to think of the old spiritual:

Many troubles have we known Lord.
Many troubles lie ahead.
Many times have we all stumbled in the weary miles we've tread.
Many times have we called out as our faith been torn apart.
But we rest now rest in your favor and we know now in our hearts.

There will be peace in the valley when we cross this mountain high.
There will be peace in the valley,
In the valley bye and bye.

I thought of the Lord's promise in Ezekiel, “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live' in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. All the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken; I will accomplish it.”

Ten times the Lord says “I will”. Ten time in two verses God promises to be the one to restore and renew. Ten times the Lord promises to be the one who will accomplish it. Ten times in two verses we are reminded by God of a promise. On that promise I think of the trees that surround our church. I think of the giant oak tree in the middle of our yard. I think of how long it's been there and the stories that were shared under its branches. I think of all the creatures who called that tree home and of all the children who've dreamed of climbing it. I think of the creatures who hide out in the woods. I think of the turtles bathing in the sun. I think of the gophers scurrying across the road. I think of the deer grazing in the open fields. I think of the eagles swooping down and catching their prey. I think of the Mattaponi and all the aquatic life that hide beneath its surface and in its muddy floor.

As I drive by the homes I ask myself, “Are they happy? Behind those doors, in their secrets, are they happy? Are they at peace?” I start to think of our church family and I ask the same question, “Are you happy? Behind your closed doors and closed curtains, are you happy? Are you at peace?” As I ask that question I think of the promise God has made. I think of the peace we all need in non-peaceful world. I say a little prayer for those who live in those homes. I pray for those who are here. I simply ask for the Lord to grant us a little more peace. I think of that tree, God promised Israel. I think of God's promise, “I will accomplish it.” And it causes my soul to sing.

There's a river in that valley running through a field of green
Where we'll all be forgiven and our souls will all wash clean.
There's a promise everlasting just waiting to be heard.
So we walk on and listen and we know it word for word.

There will be peace in the valley when we cross this mountain high.
There will be peace in the valley,
In the valley bye and bye.

As I drive through the countryside I see the crops growing in the vast fields. I see the farmers sweating in the heat. I think of how their crops grow and causes me to think of Jesus preaching in fields like the ones I see. I think of the farmers gathered around him as he says, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would spout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come. With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

I think of how all that is being done is done by the Lord's hand. I think of God's giant hand writing this great story. I think of our roles in this story. I think of how great this story is. I think of how this story expands past our garden gates and into the woods behind us. I think of the cornfields and how in those fields hides all sorts of God's creatures unknown to us. I think of all that the Lord is doing that is unknown to us.

I think of a giant hole that is hidden behind the cornfield right up the road. I think of what caused that hole. I think of what used to be there. I think of what this place used to be like before there were cars and electricity. I think of the steamboats that used to come up river. I think of our older members and their stories. I think of them growing up in a time so different from today. I think of what life must have been like for them. I think of their struggles as they get older. I think of their families and wonder what life was like for them before I met them. I think of their stories and I smile. I bet they have great stories.

I think of how much life is like the seeds scattered on the ground. I think of how we try to explain life through science and faith, trying to create a formula on how to grow right. I think of how the sower has little control over whether the crop grows or doesn't. I think of how much the sower must rely on God's earth to help. I think of how beautiful and complex life is. I think of how much anger and fear is this world. I think of the troubles we've all seen and known. I think of how we try to solve our problems with more inventions and with more money instead of with a little more love and compassion. I think of how quickly a neighbor could turn into an enemy over something so mundane as forgetting to return a lawnmower. I think of the people who call for assistance and the struggles they are having. I think of those who work hard but are still unable to make ends meet. I think of those who are unable to find work. I wonder of what their dreams were like as children and how different life has turned out.

My heart aches for them and I wonder how many here this morning are struggling. So I think again on God's promise. I think of the day the Lord will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar. I think of the day the Lord will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. I think of how the shade will give us. I think of the day when the Lord's promise has been fulfilled and we finally see an end to this world and finally live in a world that works right. I think of that day and I pray for that day, not for myself, but for all in need of peace. My soul then sings:

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be led by a child.

There will be peace in the valley when we cross this mountain high.
There will be peace in the valley
In the valley bye and bye.

Yes there will be peace in the valley; in the valley bye and bye.

I think of how special and wonderful that day will be and it fills my soul with hope, joy, and peace.

There will be peace in the valley when we cross this mountain high.
There will be peace in the valley,
In the valley bye and bye

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