A Sermon by Senior Minister, John B. McCall, September 12, 2010
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Matthew 6:25-34
When Elsa and I were planning for this fall, we talked about this Sunday that’s in between Labor Day last weekend, and Homecoming next weekend. We thought about calling today: “Summer’s Over – Handle It!” Instead we decided to call it “Turn, Turn Turn…” a reminder of the cycles and the seasons and the wisdom of creation that surrounds us.
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We all carry things around. It’s really popular for kids to carry things in their backpacks… lots of things. I heard a doctor on TV recently saying children should never carry more than 10-15% of their body weight in the packs – that’s 8-10 pounds, max, but many small children typically carry 20 lbs. and it can hurt them and cause life-long problems.
Some of us who are older carry things around, too. We may not really have a pack on our back but we act like it. And we pick up this and come across that and toss it into our backpack and drag it around like a heavy weight: old grudges, hurt feelings, guilt, sadness… lots of things. Our “backpacks” can get really heavy, too.
We also carry calendars and “to do” lists as ways of keeping track of our commitments. When I began ministry I had a little pocket calendar that fit in my shirt pocket. It showed a whole week on two little pages. I was either much less busy or had a much better memory. Probably both!
Then I got a Day-Timer™ calendar that had all sorts of different pages for different purposes. Then I got a computer. Then a “Personal Digital Assistant.” Then a Smartphone. And last week I got a new iPod Touch™. All to keep track of my commitments and responsibilities.. and because I really like gadgets.
Scripture tells us that God’s creation has a rhythm and a cycle and that every season is beautiful in its own time. As we move from summer to autumn we adjust to the change of the seasons and the cycles of God’s creation. We dust off the backpacks and briefcases and calendars and try to get back into the familiar swing of our lives.
So, too, we experience God’s presence in the cycles and seasons of our lives, remembering that we can ease our worries and fears if we’ll focus on what matters most and trust God to take care of the rest.
I think one way is to keep aware of the big picture, to recognize that there is a time for everything and everything rests in God. Jesus knew we miss a lot of God’s beauty and wonder because we’re carrying heavy loads and worrying about how things will work out
I’ve always liked the story of a traveler in England hundreds of years ago. He came to a hilltop and saw stonecutters hard at work. He approached the first worker and said “What are you doing?” And the worker answered “I’m cutting stones.” The traveler nodded and moved on, then asked the next worker the same question. This worker answered: “I’m cutting stones to earn money to support my family.”
The traveler nodded and moved on, then asked the next worker the same question. “What are you doing?” Stopping for a moment, the worker stared at the stone in his hand, slowly turned to the traveler, and said, “I’m building a cathedral!”
When we can see that we’re an important part of something much larger, something eternal, we may feel the load is a little lighter.
We’re all a part of something really wonderful and important, building the realm of God for the sake of all.
As the seasons turn; as we recognize summer is over; as we think of the needs and demands, the lists and calendars that seem to control our days, let’s be sure that we pay attention to the larger purpose, the greater good.
To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. God has made everything beautiful in its own time: summer and autumn, winter and spring; childhood and youth; adulthood and old age.