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Walking in Jesus' Footsteps
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
July 1, 2001
By
The Rev. Ann M. Smith
The rear view mirror in a car is a really essential item. In the heavy traffic of our modern world we need to know what is behind us on the road. I had never really thought about how useful the rear view mirror in a car is until a cousin of mine told me about his driving habits. "I drive with my eyes on the rear view mirror," he told me, "because that is the only way I can make certain that there isn't a police car behind me." I cannot relate to his reasoning. But he did make me begin to reflect on how I use my rear view mirror. I realize that it would be difficult to drive safely without it. It is dangerous to take our eyes off the road in front of us. Yet there are many times that we need to see what is behind us. A rear view mirror makes it safe to see what is behind and yet still keep our eyes on the road ahead.
That is a very helpful image in terms of today's readings. The theme is clearly the call to discipleship and its great cost. If we are to live our faith authentically, then we must learn to follow God toward our common goals. It is not that we need to forget the past. Past experience is important. It informs the present. But we must not cling to the past. It is not helpful to live our lives looking in a rear view mirror. The mirror can help us to see what has happened. But if we do not keep our eyes on the road ahead, we are bound to end up in the ditch.
Christian faith is a future call, a call to change and growth. But churches and the people in them do not always hear that call, or at least do not want to. We cling to past traditions. We become either unable or unwilling to accept change. How often I have heard people say things which make we wonder if they come to church, not for spiritual fulfillment, but because they expect that the church is the one place which will never change.
Christian commitment is not without great cost. We may be confronted with some difficult truths about ourselves. We may have to deal with the past. But discipleship calls us to make a decision. We must not stay stuck in the past, but must move forward. We must change and grow.
The readings today focus on such periods of transition and change. They call us to ask how we respond to God's call. In what new directions might God be calling us? What might keep us from changing direction? What is our reaction to being called by God?
Elisha is called by God to assume the role of prophet in place of Elijah. Elijah is the tried and tested past, Elisha, the unknown future. It is difficult to be in such a position of responsibility. No wonder that Elisha wishes to cling to the strength, reputation and wisdom of the older man! However, Elijah is wise enough to know that he needs to hand over the responsibility to the next generation.
He asks an important question. "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you," he says to Elisha. It is a time of testing. Elisha must be ready to act decisively and even risk failure. He asks for the right thing – a double share of Elijah's spirit, the same source of strength that sustains Elijah, a strength beyond his own that will assist him in the challenges ahead.
Elijah wisely points out that it is up to him. "If you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not," he tells him. It is a matter of whether or not he has that capacity within himself to accept the grace of God. And of course, Elisha sees beyond the ordinary to the heart of the matter. His anguished cry is the cry of one being deprived of all he trusts and holds dear, but it is also clearly the cry of one who has suddenly discovered something tremendous which gives him a great sense of confidence. Now the task for him is to channel the grace that has been given to him through his own gifts and strengths.
The Gospel points out that discernment of God's call to us is not an easy task. It requires not only an initial interest and willingness to be open and sincere. It requires a radical sense of commitment that considers and weighs the cost, then willingly leaves everything behind and does not look back. Some people respond to the call to grace without ever considering the cost. Like the person who said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go," such people make an emotional decision that comes from good intentions but is doomed to failure. When the Christian life becomes costly and demanding, as it must, they fall away. They are prepared for spiritual experience, but not for suffering. They expect comfort and safety; not challenge and sacrifice. There is peace; there is also persecution. There is security, joy and abundance; there is also blood, sweat and tears.
How do we help people to discern their call? How do we help them to discern God's grace at work in their lives? Like Jesus, we need to test peoples' sense of commitment. How do we channel offered gifts and enthusiasm in a way that both welcomes the offer and tests the commitment? Do we help people to consider the unattractive factors of Christian commitment at the outset – the commitment of time and energy, the commitment to stewardship? Or do we hope they will never find out? Do we even understand the kind of commitment that is called for?
There are some who simply cannot accept that God could possibly be calling them. Like those in the Gospel reading who are invited by Jesus to follow, they quickly find an excuse – and it's often a good and valid one! "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." It is a sacred duty in any culture. "I will follow, but first let me say goodbye. First let me raise my family. First let me have some fun. First let me make lots of money. First let me … " Being a follower of Jesus may mean making tough choices that require clear vision and determination. Are we ready to respond to God's call?
We who call ourselves Christians must throw out our old concepts of what it means to be a disciple. We must make tough choices. We must become authentic in our Christian lives. In authentically following Christ, there will be costs. There will be demands. But there will also be peace and joy. The psalmist tells us, "Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen." Does that remind you in any way of the poem, "Footprints"? I came across this lovely new version of the poem.
Footprints -- A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.
For much of the way the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lords, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. This si only one set of footprints, they have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends.
Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me lean to walk with you."
"That is correct."
",,,And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"I suppose that I was becoming like you in every way."
"Precisely!"
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answered with a smile in his voice. "You don't know? That is when we danced."
Mary B. Chappell, Walk #77, Allenspark, C0, Table of Ruth
To be a disciple of Christ is not an easy task. It requires commitment to the faith. It requires that we believe that God is present, that we will not be alone. God will be there, leading, guiding, comforting, and keeping us as we follow in love.