If you ever travel on the Thru-Way from the Victor exit to the Canandaigua exit you know that the right hand lane is so rough that it feels like pieces of your car are going to start falling of here there and everywhere. In the over 25 years I’ve lived in this area that lane has always been rough, despite several attempts by the Thru-Way to fix it. I’m curious if the current repaving project will finally set it to rights.
While I would argue that far right
lane is an example of either truly flawed design or very sloppy inspection of
the road base before paving, it does remind me of something else. In college I worked a few semesters as a
co-op student with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in their
Bureau of Environmental Quality. For
much of that time I shared office space with an experienced engineer who had
spent his career designing highways. I
remember talking with him about some of the most problematic highway projects
at the time. He would become
frustrated. One time he pointed to a
coffee mug on his desk and said, “People are never satisfied. If I were to design a road so smooth that you
could put that mug on the dashboard of your car and have it not spill a drop
all too soon people would complain and want something better.” While I will maintain that the right lane of
the Thruway between Victor and Canandaigua is a truly abysmal bit of highway, I
believe he had a point.
God made us to be highly capable and
creative beings. We can do many amazing
things. Among them is that we can shape
our environment to make it safer and more comfortable for ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with that in and of
itself, but at what point do we go too far?
At what point are we just never satisfied and so we expend endless thought
and resources making things ever more comfortable?
That takes us to the very
uncomfortable teaching in our gospel reading where Jesus says, “If any want to
become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and
follow me.” Ouch. We don’t like to hear that. And there’s more.
The gospels record
Jesus saying things like this any number of times. This one stands out for having a word added –
daily. “Let them deny themselves and
take up their cross daily and follow me.”
That one
additional word here makes a big difference.
Of course the idea
of taking up a cross is not a pleasant one.
Crucifixion was shameful, extremely painful, and of course, results in
death. No one in their right mind would
want to willingly do such a thing! But
the image is easily symbolized. Taking
up your cross is adapting a way of life that is counter to the ways of the
world. Instead of looking to your own
interest, which is the way of the world; it is investing your whole self in the
betterment of others and the world at large.
Why do such a foolish thing?
Because when your value is held securely by God you don’t rely on the
world. And because you discover your
fullest self when you are absolutely giving of yourself. The ironic truth is that the more you give of
yourself the more yourself you become. Even
so, this symbolic meaning can easily be distorted.
We live in
turbulent political times. The country
has become increasingly polarized in recent decades. I have my own fears, concerns, and angers. The situation is far more complex than most
people are willing to admit, but there are many calls for action. People of all political persuasions attend
rallies, protests, demonstrations and the like.
That’s fine. Citizens have every
right to do so, and such things do have a place in creating change. But in and of themselves they accomplish
little to nothing. If you want political
change and all you do is attend rallies, and if you send some money to election
campaigns, then all you’re really doing are the charismatic things and avoiding
the real work.
Some people may
think that being met with anger for their activism work, and possibly being
arrested, for is a cross that they are bearing.
Perhaps so. But again, that’s an
approach that is charismatic, loves the spotlight, and is nothing more than
moral posturing. If you want to make
real change then you have to work and work hard. That work is often very boring and
overlooked.
Taking up your
cross daily means a way of life. It is
not execution. It is not
charismatic. It is a way of life that is
driven by hard working love. It is not
afraid to be obscure, unrecognized, and even scoffed at.
In a week and a
day many communities across America will be having Memorial Day parades. Victor has a Memorial Day parade. Canandaigua does too. It is a good time to remember those who have
died in service to their country; those who have given their lives so that many
others can enjoy a good life. I think it
is safe to say that in almost every one of those parades there will be fire
trucks. Kids love fire trucks. They’re big.
They’re loud. They’re shiny and
bright. Fire trucks signify a crisis, and
that people who are skilled and brave are heading into that crisis, possibly
risking their lives, for the betterment of the community. We do well to celebrate our fire fighters.
If you’ve heard me preach like this
before you know what I’m going to say next.
How many garbage trucks will be in the Memorial Day parades across the
nation? Also, Canandaigua has a big
truck with a giant drain snake on it that is used to keep the sewer lines
clear. Do you think that truck will be
in the parade?
Do not our garbage collectors and
our sewage treatment workers also do dangerous stuff on a daily basis? Are they not also skilled? Do they not handle toxic chemicals, sharp objects,
and dangerous things? If they did not do
their work, would we continue to live in safe places? Wouldn’t the garbage and filth quickly pile
up into a national health crisis far bigger than a burning building?
Of course I deeply appreciate the
many fire fighters and emergency medical technicians in our communities. Having fire trucks in a Memorial Day parade
is fun! Having garbage trucks would be
disgusting. But still, if there was a,
“Take Up Your Cross Daily,” award, I’d be giving it to the garbagemen. (Perhaps I should organize a political
protest demanding equal representation in Memorial Day parades. For every fire truck there must be a garbage
truck or sewage service vehicle!)
I started by talking about people
never being satisfied and always wanting better roads, and better
everything. We want comforts,
conveniences, entertainment; and ever more.
We also like things that are charismatic and attention getting. These are all parts of our human nature. We live in a culture that celebrates these
things and craves these things. Yet each
and every one of these things is antithetical to what our Lord Jesus taught.
When he said to take up your cross
daily and follow him he was not teaching that people should embrace pain and
misery. But he was teaching the truth
about wholeness of life. If all you ever
think about is more comforts and conveniences… if all you ever think about is
doing things that are exciting and charismatic, then you will never be
satisfied. You will miss most of life. You will lose sight of who you are and what
your purpose is. I think that is the
biggest crisis our nation is facing.
We’ve been able to indulge too much thinking it will make us happier and
more fulfilled, when all it does is leave us empty.
Jesus said that for those who want
to save their life they will lose it.
But those who lose their life will find it. That goes for not only eternal life, but also
life now.
So, don’t expect God to call you to
dramatic and exciting things. Perhaps
you’ll do some of that, but most of it will be meaningful things. It will be doing routine tasks; caring for
others; using your time, talents, and money not in systematic ways, but in
careful person-to-person ways. Taking up
your cross builds relationships. Those
who do so are blessed to see the kingdom of God coming into their midst.
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