Friday after Lent 2 Read: Exodus 17:1-7 Is the Lord among us or not? Like most parents, Wendy and I have experienced our share of long car journeys with an impatient crowd of children in the back. I remember us embarking on a trip to Canberra from Lambton and, before we had gone two blocks, Nicholas asking whether we were there yet? With that sort of beginning, it could only be a long car trip in front of us all! With the benefit of age and wisdom, Nicholas is now aware of what a car trip to Canberra involves, and his focus has shifted from the immediate - the time in the car - to the goal of that time - a visit to Canberra. It might be said that he is able to see the big picture now in a way that wasnt available to him as a child undertaking that trip for the first time. We encounter the people of Israel on their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land today. It is a journey none of them have experienced in their lifetime. The concept of being free from bondage - no matter how much they may have longed for it - is taking some getting used to. There are even some who would prefer slavery in Egypt rather than this perilous journey to freedom. Humans love safety and security even when it comes at the cost of freedom. In the midst of the wilderness it is impossible for them to look to the bigger picture, to look to what this journey means. Their focus is on the here and now, and here and now they are thirsty. Their faith appears to be in Moses rather than God, and Moses doesnt seem to be delivering, in spite of all they have experienced so far on their journey. Moses is well aware that it is God who has delivered them. Moses is well aware that the Lord is in their midst. Moses is aware of the bigger picture. And he is also aware of the stubbornness and hardness of heart of these people. Yet he doesnt give up on them and he doesnt give up on the Lord. As we journey from the wilderness of sin to freedom to live our lives abundantly it can be easy for us to be like Nicholas or the people of God. Our focus can be too narrow, our picture too small. Petty things can bog us down. Our thirst can be for all the wrong things. We fail to trust that the Lord is among us. This Lenten period offers us the change to refocus our attention on what the Lord is doing for us and in the world. It affords us the opportunity to, once again, take in the big picture and to know that, while we are not there yet, our journey is always held within the loving embrace of the Lord. And that, that is enough. Lord of the journey, keep us hopeful and faithful as we follow where you lead the way. Amen. Canon Hugh
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 20:41:10 +0000