“This is not going to go the way you think…” –Luke Skywalker
It’s possible that these words are fresh in my mind, because
I have now seen “The Last Jedi” three times.
I don’t even love the movie, but we are intergenerationally a Star Wars
family for life, so you have to see it with everyone. That’s just how the force works.
I feel relatively confident that I am the only one left (in
my family… maybe in the world…) who is still holding out hope for the
redemption of Kylo Ren. As it turns out,
there are a few things in life that are truly unforgiveable, and apparently
killing Han Solo… your father… is one of them.
But this Luke Skywalker line… it’s bothering me…
What does this have to do with the flip flops, glitter, or theology? Let’s hope I can make a connection, or this
post is going to be a bust!
Humility is a funny thing (not humorous, just funny). I should probably admit, at this point, that
it was my intention to write a post about success, today. I’m now saving it for tomorrow… or next week…
or someday… or never… we’ll see. This
change in direction all started with a sermon quote from yesterday’s worship
gathering:
“Sometimes the price
to be paid for freedom is loneliness…
Change always comes with loss.”[i]
Then I ran across a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., which
is at least equally true:
“It’s always the right
time to do what is right.”
Dr. King said so many important things, and this is not
ordinarily the one I might quote on this day of remembrance and celebration of his life and work, but it somehow
seems fitting.
So, what is right?
Psalm 25
underscores the concepts of loneliness and humility and confession and systemic
change, all around. I have included most
of it here, with some parts that stood out to me, specifically, highlighted in
red:
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord?
He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity,
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious
to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.
The
daily office continued to push me hard, this morning, as I leaned in to Hebrews
4 and considered the tested yet sinless Jesus and my own need to, “approach the throne of grace with boldness,
so that [I] may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).
Accusing
others of guilt is tempting, but as confession so often does; it must begin
with me… with you… with those in leadership who have an opportunity to deal
gently with others… with those called by God, offering sacrifices first for our
own sins: personal, communal, and systemic (see Hebrews 5:3-5).
Well, that’s
humiliating. It’s lonely. And, it’s not how I thought this was going to
go. Following Jesus rarely does.
L.