There is a scene in "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," when Gandalf, the grey wizard, falls into the deep and disappears. The gathering had lost their leader. They felt abandoned. Alone. Confused. And i think it is safe to say that they also felt scared and anxious about what the future held, without their leader. But before he fell into the darkness, he shouted to the gathering, "Go, you fools. Go..." And then he was gone.
If they had stayed around, even to mourn their fallen leader, the fate of the world would have been lost. They, the "Fellowship of the Ring," weren't just a group of rag tag people out on a road trip. They had a purpose. They had a reason. They had a goal. And just because one of their own, one that had led them through some trying seasons, just because he would no longer join them, walk with them, lead them, didn't mean the 'fellowship,' could turn around and quit, because all seemed lost.
The world needed them to get back up, dust themselves off, and finish the task that brought them together, and the fellowship did just that. And they completed their journey and saved the world. Sure Gandalf came back, but even if he hadn't, this group would have pushed through, to the end, finishing their task.
Jesus faced the same reality as he met with his disciples, in Galilee, before he ascended into heaven. He knew he had to leave them, and Jesus knew he had to prepare them for his departure. Jesus was leaving, but as he promised, he would never leave them alone. He would always send them someone, the Holy Spirit, an advocate, to guide and direct the steps of those left behind, and because they chose to respond and go into the world, baptizing the world, in the Trinity, the world felt the power of Jesus' love and salvation, and if the new 12 simply went away and hid, who knows what the world would have experienced.
This is now the challenge you face, at the West Milton Church of the Brethren. I am not Gandalf or anything close, but i do love you all and have cherished this journey, over the last nine plus years. But the God of Creation has called us to go, and we must go. However, we must not be the only ones who go, all of you who have already entered the waters of baptism, must also go. Go out and seek the lost. Go out and make waves of peace. Go out and open doors for people to experience the amazing love and healing power of Jesus. We go back to McPherson, to answer God's call, but God calls each of us, even if the trip is to the Brickhouse, God calls each of us to go.
And now, more than ever, the burden remains yours to take up. It is time for you all to go and seek the lost, forsaken, and forgotten. Go find the broken and sick. Go find the divorced and hurting. Go find the son or daughter suffering from AIDS. I dont know who God will bring along your path if you all go, but i do know God will saturate your journey with the broken, if you all, from the board chair to the gardener to the deacon to the licensed minister to the pew warmer to the shut-in, if you go, God will overwhelm you with people who need Jesus.
But you must go. And as we leave to begin our new narrative in McPherson, a wonderful opportunity sits on your doorstep. You no longer are bound to the 'old ways' of doing/being church. You can and must blaze new trails and set new trends as a community of faith. You, all of you, must own the ministry and mission, and when you do, watch out, because the doors will be flung open, and the people will come running. There is simply too much pain in the world, and too much need for Jesus in the world, so when you go and welcome all back, watch what God will do.
And it all begins with a simple two letter word: GO!
Two letters, and yet they carry so much weight. Go and love your neighbor. Go and bring healing to the sick. Go and restore relationships with people. Go and make peace with your enemies. Go and touch the 'least of these...' And when all this happens, when you claim the ministry as your own and you answer God's call to go, you will also realize this truth: Go and find God and abundant life. Go and surely Jesus is with you all the rest of your days. GO. Amen.
Thank you for nine plus years of abundant love, mercy, grace, and acceptance. You all have enriched our lives to a degree that thank you simply cannot express the fullness of our gratitude. Thank you, and we love you all. NOW GO!
Shalom,
jerry
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