In the center window on the lower level of the entrance of our sanctuary, the shepherd window has stood for almost a century of time. Whereas you are reminded as you face forward of the resurrection, as I look out on you I am reminded by the shepherd window of a truth which keeps me in the profession which I have chosen as a life work.
It is the message from the Biblical perspective of God’s relationship to his people and Jesus' role as "The Good Shepherd". The window was dedicated to the good memory of Rev. C. B. DuBose who served as pastor here in 1878-1882 and died from yellow fever contracted while visiting the sick and dying during one of the worst epidemics in Pensacola's history. Dr. DuBose's body is buried in the old St. Michael's cemetery just down the street. He died as a good shepherd sacrificing his very life to serving as pastor of the people of this church and community. Jesus also died as Good Shepherd. But he yet lives in us as we today fulfill this shepherding role.
1. There is the great human need to believe that there is a Divine Shepherd for each of us. A mother or father or brother or sister, a friend or a God who cares for us and watches over us…one who knows where the living water is to be found where the green pastures are located and who wants us to be there.
On this Mother's Day, it is easy, at least for some of us, to liken this divine trait of shepherd to the protective love, which we discovered in our mother. Henry David Thoreau once wrote: "God couldn't be everywhere so he made mothers."
I have observed in the more recent years of my life, that even mothers need mothers. I visit with my mother if not everyday then every other day in splitting my visits with Jane so that one of us at least touches base with her everyday. She lives in the Haven, a nursing facility which is jointly owned and operated by Sacred Heart Hospital and the Methodist Homes for the Aging. There is a lady who is just down the hall from my mother’s room, who is bedridden and cannot speak and hasn't spoken for years. On some days, when I am there at the Haven Nursing Home around 5 o'clock, there is always this man about my age, a young man, and he stands beside her bed and talks to her with no response from her and he feeds her. This happens late in the afternoon everyday, seven days a week. One day I introduced myself to him and he told me an interesting story. So far as he knows, she has not recognized him since the spring of l989. But everyday he goes and mothers his mother.
One recent evening, my mother was sick with somewhat of an acute stomach pain. I sat with her and held her hand, as she years ago had held my hand when I was in a little bed with a big pain. Sometimes, mothers need mothering.
Jesus is quoted in the scripture reading today as saying, "I am the Good Shepherd". In John, there are many "I am sayings" of Jesus and they are so comforting: I am the Door, I am the Light of the World, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, I am the Resurrection and the Life, I am the Good Shepherd…In the light of Easter, Jesus is the living, Resurrected Shepherd who gave his life and received it back again.
No wonder Jesus chose the analogy of Good Shepherd to describe his task in life. Throughout Palestine, the land that Jesus walked, the sheep were the most important domestic animals anywhere. The great religious leaders of Israel had been shepherds: Father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob Moses and David. Perhaps this is why the 23rd Psalm is one of the best loved passages of the entire Bible. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…He leadeth me beside still waters, he restoreth my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. And yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he is with me, holding my hand, leading me, supporting me, encouraging me, mothering me…
Mary Jane Childrers' sister, Martha McCall, couldn't hear very well, so she had a hearing aid. During the service she would turn it up to a level that would shatter glass, well maybe not that loud, but nevertheless, it would drive me crazy. Increasingly over the last few years we have had trouble from our temperamental organ, (I said temperamental organ, not temperamental organist), though we have had some of those, many years ago. When, Martha's hearing aid would hit glass-shattering levels, I would always assume that the problem was our organ and I would turn to Rick and say, “do what ever it takes to fix it.” (Years ago, when we would have a stuck note during the service, Ike Terry would leave the organ bench at the beginning of a pastoral prayer and whisper as he was leaving, “pray till you hear me come back.” He would crawl up in the upper chamber, behind these curtains, and fix the problem and make enough noise when he returned that I could hear him and know that I could stop praying. That was why we used to have long pastoral prayers, well that was one of the reasons we had long pastoral prayers.
I don't know how I got off on this tangent, I was thinking about Martha McCall, whose hearing aid would go off. She now lives in heaven, beyond hearing aid problems. But Martha believed that each person is assigned a guardian angel that watches over us and protects us. She always wore a small angel pin and gave out many. I would like to believe in an ever present guardian angel for each of us, but my experience has taught me that if it be true, I and others happened to have drawn one who sleeps a lot or just doesn't pay attention. We don't know about such things, but what we do know is that God has placed us in families, and the church family, where we are to be protected and watched over, loved and disciplined, guided, and so on.
2. Oh, how we need a shepherd! God fulfills this great need as Holy presence, one of the deepest of human needs. In like manner, in some mysterious way, we are all called to the responsibility to provide for others that which we have received in answer to our greatest need. We are to be a good shepherd for someone else.
When we are married, we pledge to love and cherish an individual all the days of our life. It is a shepherd's pledge. A pledge to watch over in love. To love and cherish, for better or for worst. A Marine’s “Semper Fidelis”.
When we baptize our children, the congregation pledges to shepherd the child. Saying: "We will surround these children with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their trust of God and be found faithful in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life."
Today in Washington D.C. there is taking place the Million Mom's March, which is a way mothers are trying to call attention to gun violence in our country. It is a worthy cause. Did you know that 4000 kids get killed in this country every year? 4000 die. Let me help you with understanding this immense problem. For every child killed in America, five more are wounded. That means that every day in America, 60 kids are shot, 11 of who will die. If this trend continues, which one of the children who knelt at this altar today will be the one to die this year? Kids, listen to me: Never-Ever Touch a gun and get home quick when someone you are playing with plays with a gun.
I have concluded based on the violence in our land, that we need to get rid of guns in our homes. All guns need to be registered and all handguns banned totally. Handguns are for one reason only, to kill people.
One of the functions of the shepherd, the mother, the congregation, is to protect the sheep from the evil that stalks the human pastures. There are a lot of evil wolves in the land. Dangerous, mean dogs who will destroy the lambs. Although we can protect all we want, my experience has taught me that there are too many wolves, and they will slip in during the night, they will appear on television and video and movie screens, they will make drinking look like fun, and promiscuous sex as the popular way. Try as we do, you can not legislate against evil and you can not eliminate all the wolves in the land. They keep coming at you. Sometimes the wolves dress up in sheep's clothing.
Today we honor our mothers on Mother's Day. How grateful we all are for those who have mothered us. They have birthed us, nursed, cried and prayed for us, and with their limited abilities, tried to shepherd us, protect us from evil.
The Church’s shepherd role is to care for the people, to watch over the flock and keep away the wolves. One of the very practical ways the church has fulfilled this function is through such programs as youth fellowships, Sunday Schools, youth choirs, and children's programs.
Project Graduation, is a great example, and has provided a wonderful alternative party to drinking and driving. Boy Scouts is a great alternative to hanging out in the mall or cruising into dark chat rooms on the Internet. There are others. We do good work when we do the work of the shepherds.
Summary: Paul speaks of God's shepherding nature as gift and responsibility when he writes "God has reconciled us to himself and he has given us the ministry of reconciliation."
So therefore, He who has mothered us, expects and equips us to be Good Mothers, or shepherds for those about us.
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"When you come to the crossroads, take the ancient path and walk in it, and you will find peace for your souls." One's graduation from high school is a major crossroad of a person's life! You are making decisions which will shape the rest of your lives, and it is so scary for your parents, who birthed you and nurtured you, and are trying hard to stand back and let you go your way.
Many an individual has made life choices at crossroads and chosen his life work on the basis of where he or she could make the most money. Such criteria should not be the only criteria for choosing one's vocation, there are other considerations-for example, what are my gifts, what makes me happy, where does God need the kind of person he has made like me?
When I was in high school, I decided one summer that I wanted to make a lot of money so I took a summer job picking cotton. I didn't last 'till high noon. My brother worked so hard he passed out in the hot sun. And by the time I finally filled one huge sack, which produced 85 cents, my arms were scratched up and my hands were a bloody mess. My legs were clinking together from a mass of cockle burrs that had attached themselves to my jeans. That might have been the same day I answered my call to go into preaching. For sure it was one of the days that helped me decide to go to college.
My experience was not unlike that of a news article I read last summer about a 17 year old who took a summer job working in the coal mines in West Virginia. He thought he would make a lot of money and it would be a great adventure and besides, he was macho man and when some of the wimps would ask "what are you going to do this summer?" he would answer "I'm working in the coal mine." Let me summarize a fascinating story. One day, although he had been warned by the older miners, to be careful and not wander off in the underground tunnels, he did, remember he was macho man, and he became hopelessly lost. He cried out and no one answered…He went down first one dark tunnel and then another. And that's when it happened. As he was groping along getting deeper and deeper in the mine, all of a sudden the light on his miner's helmet went out and he was in absolute pitch darkness.
He realized that he was all alone and the macho man started to cry as he thought he would never get out. He prayed: "Oh God please help me" and he fell down on his knees and prayed and as he went down, he felt through his knees, something very hard and he realized that it was a railcar track. He realized that if he kept his hand on that track and followed it, eventually it would lead him out. And that's exactly what he did and that's exactly what happened.
Now I want you to hold that story in your mind as you consider the scripture for today from the prophet Jeremiah:
In the sixth chapter, the Hebrews were at a very low point in their national life. Nothing was going right and everything was collapsing around them. And Jeremiah pointed out to them that the reason was that they had been unfaithful to God. Like the Old prophets, he said to them: "You think it is bad now. Well, cheer up brother, the worst is yet to come." Then he said to them: "When you come to the crossroads, take the ancient path and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls." Isn't this a great verse: When you come to the crossroads, take the ancient path and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."
In other words, when you come to a critical and crucial point in your life, when you come to a point where you've got to make a really big and really important decision, move in the direction of what is ancient and long standing and that's been a proven way over long years. "Take the ancient path, and walk in it."
The reason the Hebrew people found themselves in such an awful place 600 years before the birth of Christ is because they hadn't lived by the statutes and the principles and the laws of their God. They were doing way back then, 2600 years ago, what a whole lot of us do today. They chose a new morality, a new way, rather than the ancient way. They came up with their own set of laws based on their contemporary whims and desires which reflected more the culture of their day rather than the commitments of their people. And they got themselves in big trouble.
Jeremiah's counsel was always right on target and never without hope: "When you come to the crossroads, take the ancient path and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls!"
In the Christian tradition, the ancient path is marked by the commandments and by the life and teachings of Jesus. These are ancient truths which you have been taught since you were tiny: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Love your neighbor.
The Decalogue, or 10 Commandments have been the ancient path for our people from our early beginnings when God was forming a unique, holy people in the desert on the way to a promised land. Do not neglect these commandments, keep them. They are not God's 10 suggestions, they are commandments. Keep them and you will find rest for your soul. Let me just remind you:
The ancient way-----
Foolish sexual relationships unguided by commitment, Dishonesty, and greed can
put you in deep trouble. As you stand at the crossroads, be informed by the wisdom
of the great teachers from our past. The Ancient path, will lead you to peace
and prosperity.
A few years ago, Ted Koppel spoke at Duke University's commencement. And his subject matter of choice was most interesting. He is a news reporter, traveled all over the world, entertained and been entertained by Presidents and Kings, CEO's and Nobel Peace Prize winners. He chose not to speak of some pressing international issue, not some great political issue, not some advice on how to succeed and really make it big in life, he chose to speak on personal morality. Listen to his words: "We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us: "Shoot up if you must, but make sure you use a clean needle" Enjoy sex whenever and wherever you please, but always make sure you do it safely." The answer is "NO" And not because it isn't cool or smart or because you might end up in jail or dying in an AIDS ward if you do, but just because it is wrong." And then he said: "We've spent 5000 years as a race of human beings trying to drag ourselves out of the primeval slime by searching for truth and moral absolutes. And in its purest form, truth is not a polite tap on the shoulder; it is a howling reproach! What Moses brought down from Mount Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions. They were the Ten Commandments."
The old prophet Jeremiah was right--"When you come to the crossroads in your life, when you come to that point and that place then take the ancient path where you've really got to make a very important and even crucial decision like the one where you find yourselves right now, and walk in it, and someday you'll be very, very glad that you did.!"
Through the sacrifices of others who have gone before us, we now live in a time and place where we have freedom and faith, hope and peace.
Recently I was around the Municipal Court buildings where there are some of the few remaining parking meters in town, looking for a parking space. Since I had zero change on me, I was hoping for one with some paid time still on the meter. At last, I found not one but two spaces and pulled in and then backed up to claim the one with some free time. (Either a guardian angel, clean living, or sheer luck will do it every time) Sometimes you have to ride around the block twice to find "free time". I got out of the car, locked it and started to walk away, when I heard this judge's voice, saying: "Roberts, have I caught you parking on someone else's nickel again?" I laughed and responded, "Judge, I'm guilty as charged."
This week as I thought of the coming of Memorial Day, a time of the national remembrance of the war dead of the U.S., I interestingly recalled my friend's question: "Have I caught you parking on someone else's nickel?" I wasn't sure why my brain circuit reached back and drew from the brain well, that particular, silly experience, until early one morning this week, when it dawned on me.
Here in America, we are all "parking on someone else's nickel". Someone else has sacrificed and we have benefited from their gift. Some have even died for our freedoms. Many thousands, who do not even know our name, have given of themselves so that our children and we can enjoy our cherished freedoms and saving faith. Since l866, our government has celebrated Memorial Day as a national holiday, to remember and give thanks for individuals who lived and died in our nation's service to assure our way of life for all.
Behind the high and holy altar of the massive St. Paul's Cathedral in London, there is a small chapel dedicated in memory and honor to the American soldiers who died in World War II. There in the chapel is a book listing the names of those who died for the World's freedom during World War II. There are 400,000 names listed. There I stood before this open book, and read the names of one after another American soldier until my eyes blurred with the tears of gratitude and sadness. 400,000 American service men and women. 400,000 sons and daughters, 400,000 brothers and sisters, 400,000. Yes, we who are citizens of America today, are parking on someone else's nickel.
1. Let us today remember those who gave their lives in the defense of our cherished freedoms, and be thankful.
2. Let us today think of our family, through whose sacrifice we have all been blessed.
My father attended Auburn University for two years, but never finished college because of the death of his parents when he was very young and the depression, which eliminated any available money left to his rural Alabama family. But he was determined that I would go to school as long as I made the grade. He was in the crowd on the commencement day when I received my doctorate at Emory University. Although he never admitted it, when they placed the doctoral hood on my shoulders, I thought I heard an old man sing from way in the back.
The things your family has given you. . .they give sacrificially and willingly and gladly for love's sake. But let none of us take advantage of their sacrifice. Don't think you have achieved the good things of your life all on your own. Most things come to us as gift. We park on someone else's nickel.
3. Let us remember the saints of the Church, who sacrificed so that we might live with dignity and die in hope.
It has been 264 years since John and Charles Wesley, English born but came to Georgia to a New World. Although they are remembered today as the founders of Methodism, their early years to evangelize the New World met with anything but success. Charles was 27 years old at the time and he was the Secretary of Indian Affairs under Gen. James Oglethorpe. John was 33 and was appointed as the religious leader of the Colony of Georgia. Charles was the victim of the sharp tongue of one Beatre Hawkins, the wife of the town doctor at Fort Frederica on St Simon's Island. One thing led to another. He lost the support of Gen. Oglethorpe and after two months left Fort Frederica writing in his journal: "I am overjoyed at my deliverance out of this furnace." John frustrated with a love affair with Sophie Hopkey, who lived in Savannah, was asked to leave his post in a cloud of scandal wrote in his journal: "I shook the dust off of my feet, and left Georgia." So, they returned to England disappointed and frustrated.
(I look back on these facts of history for they encourage us who are less than perfect to be persistent in our pursuit of righteousness. Even the Saints of the Church had trouble.) On May 24, 1738 John Wesley was awake at five a.m. and opened his Bible on these words: (2 Peter 1:4) "There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that we should be partakers of the divine nature."
In the afternoon, his journal recalls that he attended services in the St. Paul Cathedral where he was moved by the anthem "Out of the deep have I called unto you Oh Lord, hear my voice."
And in the evening, he went very unwillingly to a prayer meeting in Aldersgate Street, where the leader was reading from Luther's preface to the letter to the Romans. It was a quarter before nine, when he was describing the change that God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation. And an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins and saved me form the law of sin and death…
From Wesley's heart-warming experience, the church began to teach the disciplined way and the heart-warming experience, as the Methodist Way. And we yet to this day, continue in this way of holiness in faith and practice. We are in the debt to our faith ancestors.
4. Let us never forget to be grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross-for our salvation. We are who we are, because of Jesus' life and death. We are saved by faith in the life and death of Jesus. We give our nickels and dimes and even sizable checks to support God's Kingdom Work through the church and how grateful I am that you do, but know this: you are not purchasing your salvation that is a free gift of God through Jesus Christ. When you give, you are being good stewards of what God has given to you for awhile, a short while. We are saved by the Grace of God.
Summary: You and I are parking on someone else's nickel, always have. Although we are asked to do our part in our time to assure our national freedoms, and our faith opportunity, and our way of life in order to pass it own to the next generation. You are expected and privileged to do great things, but for today perhaps all we need to do is to remember and be thankful.
In Washington DC this weekend there will be thousands of tourists who will stand before the Vietnam War Memorial. No other conflict has filled this nation with more tears and confusion in the last half of this past century than the Viet Nam War. To stand before this massive monument, or before Wall South here in Pensacola, is to be filled with an overpowering sense of sorrow and loss.
Last year when our Adult Choir sang in the National Cathedral, Jane and I carried our two grandchildren to experience our nation's capital. There is so much to see. High on my list was to visit the Vietnam War Memorial. On a Sunday Afternoon, we made our way to the Monument. A long massive, awesome black slab of stone, on which 58,000 names of American soldiers who died on foreign soil are listed. There around the monument there were some men in wheel chairs. There were college students quietly looking for a name. Some elderly parents reached high on the stone and touched a name and fell to the ground sobbing. I reached up and touched the name of a lost friend. It was a hot July day, but the stone was cold and chilling. My tears were warm and comforting.
One day we may have to do much, maybe this week, but for now to remember, to shed our tears and to be thankful for the sacrifices which have made us what we are is enough.
Thanks be unto God for those who have gone before us, to give us today freedom and faith, peace and security, hope and assurance.