Scripture:
Today we will hear only a single reading -- and it is different from what is shown in the bulletin. It comes from the book of Job, and has been chosen in the hope that it will help us to connect with the events of the past week in our congregation, and in the nation. I read from the first chapter of the book of Job, beginning with verse 13:

One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house, [14] a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, [15] and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." [16] While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you." [17] While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you." [18] While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, [19] and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you."

[20] Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. [21] He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Sermon:


Good preaching is always connected to the lives of the congregation. Each Sunday, I try to say something that will connect your lives to God and to one another.

• Once in a while, the entire city or country is effected by an event -- the thrill of Cleveland's bicentennial celebration -- or the tragedy of TWA flight 800 blowing up over Long Island.
  
  
  
• Occasionally, an event or issue in the life of a local congregation touches everyone in some fashion.

When virtually everyone in the congregation is touched by something that has happened -- something significant, something that taps into the great mystery which we gather each week to understand -- when something like that happens, I must consider changing whatever plans I might have for that Sunday's sermon.

Today is such a day. I am going to tell you a story which by now is familiar to some of you -- but there are others who have not heard, and most of us--including myself--don't know the whole story. The reason I'm telling it in the context of preaching is because, for 2,000 years, wherever Christians have gathered, our communities of faith have been shaped by stories -- stories in which our lives have been mysteriously touched by God. This is such a story.

At it's root, this story is about the depth of caring which God has breathed into this congregation. The story begins last winter, when a few of our congregation's leaders were contacted about a Habitat for Humanity project that was being planned for this summer. We began exploring the options, and decided to join our efforts to those of other U.C.C. churches in taking responsibility for building one of the homes. Because a number of individuals demonstrated bold leadership, Plymouth church embraced the project. First , we raised $10,000--one quarter of the total dollar cost of the home. Then we rallied volunteers to lend a hand to help build the home.

This kind of enthusiastic commitment is not strange to Plymouth -- our work at the hunger center and at Buckey Woodland School are but two examples of on going efforts to translate caring into something concrete and beneficial to others.

A week ago, the time had arrived to put our bodies where our hearts, and wallets, and mouths had been. Dozens of Plymouth members converged on our Habitat site. But as is always the case with construction, things are often different than what is planned -- and our home was not quite ready for the onslaught of volunteers. So everyone went to a different habitat home, not far away, where construction was already underway.

People began to receive assignments . . . -- and then there was the roof, which was partially completed. Now I wasn't present, but I understand from many people who were that any number of dependable Plymouth members stepped forward, willing to volunteer for the challenging project of laying the plywood sheets on the roof.

Mike Nichols and Tim Mendelsohn took on the task, and began the difficult and dangerous assignment of working together on the roof. They were both supported by the same board, that was held on the roof by a pair of chains, one on each end. Suddenly, the chain gave way on Tim's side, and having no warning, Tim plummeted off the roof, falling to the ground well over 20' below.

Everyone gasped. Jeff Pollock was standing only a few feet away, and rushed immediately to Tim. Scott Rich dashed off to phone for an ambulance. Others helped in all kinds of ways. As Jeff knelt by Tim's side, he could see that emergency measures were needed. He began the initial steps for CPR. After a few minutes, Tim was conscious and breathing, and shortly after that, the ambulance arrived.

Tim was taken to Mt. Sinai hospital, and only gradually, over the course of many hours and days, were the prayers of countless friends and loved ones answered as the doctors identified what was -- and was not -- injured by the fall. He is now out of ICU. His broken bones are beginning to heal. And given what might have happened, his prognosis is very good!

When I arrived at the hospital three hours after the accident, I had no idea what to expect. Talking with Sharon, I began to cry.

• First -- tears of gratitude as she allayed my worst fears.
  
  
  
• Then, tears of amazement at Sharon's grace and depth in the face of such heart wrenching challenge.
  
  
  
• Finally, tears of joy as I looked into Tim's eyes as he was strapped on the board, and even then, overwhelmed by pain and the unknown, he still managed to make a few humorous comments.

I will return to Tim and Sharon, but there are other parts to this story. When the chain on Tim's side gave way, not only did Tim fall, but so did Mike Nichols. Mike had been leaning against the roof with the side of his leg, and so when catastrophe struck, he began to slide down the roof -- and desperately grabbed for anything he could. He later told me that he had no idea how it happened, but somehow, his hand found the chain that had been holding up his side of the scaffold. Fortunately, Mike had the strength in his hand and arm to support his weight, and save himself from falling. Although Mike had averted a double disaster, not only was he unable to see what had happened to Tim, but there was no one to help him. Gradually, he slid his way over to an opening in the roof, and literally got himself down, physically unharmed, but emotionally shaken and like everyone else, distraught.

One of the questions which recurs again and again in this situation is why the different individuals were in the roles they were in. Take Jeff Pollock for example. The day before, as Jeff and his son were driving to Akron, the car in front of them suddenly crossed all the lanes, slammed into the guardrail, and then crossed all the lanes again, slammed into the other guardrail, and then went back and forth a few more times, until it finally came to a halt. Jeff was able to slow down safely, as were half a dozen other cars, and they all stopped. Jeff jumped out, and James called 911 from the car phone. A man from a different car began doing CPR to the man who had been driving the wayward vehicle. After the emergency crew arrived and took over, and Jeff and James were back on route, Jeff told James that he really needed to take CPR. James reminded him that he had just finished a first aide merit badge, so Jeff asked James some questions, like: Why was the man holding his hands like this . . . and what was he trying to do when he did that . . . ? Jeff listened well to James' answers.

The next day, Jeff would need everything he had learned the day before. And it would be enough.

And so come the flood of questions:

How can such a catastrophe occur to people are selflessly pouring themselves out for others?
Why Tim? . . . Why Mike? . . . Why Jeff? Why not others?. . . And what to make of this story of Jeff's highway experience. . . . When I first heard it, I had goose bumps. But life is so complex. And as I said last week, we connect with God's providence as if through a glass darkly. Part of me wants to credit God for placing Jeff behind that wayward car on that highway. But we can't credit God for Jeff's placement, and not implicate God in Tim's tragedy.


Many of these same questions are being asked by the friends and families of the 220 victims of TWA Flight 800 that blew up over Long Island four days ago. Not only must they contend with what appears to be the silence of God, but for them, there appears to be absolutely nothing but pure tragedy.

These are among the hardest questions which any religious person can face. Rabbi Harold Kushner addresses many of these challenges in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People -- a book which I recommend, even though the conclusions I draw about God are somewhat different from Kushner's. As Kushner suggests, the Bible does not duck these questions altogether. It's response can be found in the book of Job.

The story of Job is ancient, both simple and complex, and deeply troubling. It is one of the oldest stories in Hebrew scripture. Thomas Carlyle called the Book of Job "the most wonderful poem of any age and language; our first, oldest statement of the never ending problem -- man's destiny and God's way with him here on this earth. . . . There is nothing written in the Bible or out of it of equal literary merit." Perhaps all of you are familiar with the story, but since many of us grew up in churches which avoided it, allow me to offer a brief summary.

Job is the most righteous man on earth, who is not only happy, but extremely wealthy, and above all, God faring. One day, Satan appears before God, seeking permission to taunt God's pious servant Job. God allows this--and offers Job no advanced warning. Suddenly, Job's house and cattle and children are destroyed. Job finds his body covered with horrible sores. And Job's wife even urges Job to curse God. Three "so called" friends come to console him, but actually blame Job for bringing his problems upon himself, and also urge him to abandon God. But though Job is driven by pain and the desertion of his friends, he remains devoted to God. In the end, God grants Job's confident...almost arrogant request to confront God directly. And when God speaks out of the whirlwind, Job listens. God scolds Job's friends, and reminds Job that no one, however righteous or pious, has any claim to understand God's viewpoint on anything. Finally, for his faithfulness in good times and in bad, God rewards Job by restoring his loved ones and riches.

Many people feel that the God of Job makes no sense. Even the author of the book of Job gives us clear indications that he himself is troubled by the ancient story. So let me say that the brief reflections I am offering here are not an attempt to get at the depth of the book of Job. But I will not step away from an opportunity to lift up two aspects of the past week's events which are precious in God's sight.

First of all, if anyone had asked me before this accident who I would name from this congregation who best exemplifies Christian cheerfulness and hope -- Tim and Sharon would be at the top of my list. It's no wonder that they chair our Fellowship Department -- and a great deal of what goes on at Plymouth in the way of Fellowship is a tribute to them both. So even when tragedy strikes, I find each of them to be in touch with gratitude --

• that Tim's situation is no worse than it is;
  
  
• that Mike was saved from also falling;
  
  
• that those who were at the site acted so swiftly;
  
  
• that people have come forward with prayers and assistance;

I even heard an expression of gratitude that the volunteers at the site continued their efforts to complete the house.


Each of them is a witness to the rest of us that gratitude is not restricted to the good events of our lives. We are challenged to be grateful for the whole of life -- the whole kit and caboodle. This is the same attitude Job showed when, following disaster after disaster, he continued to say "Blessed be the name of the Lord". It's an attitude which acknowledges that however much we seek to understand, our comprehension will always and only be partial -- yet we trust, even when things look otherwise, that God is both loving and sovereign.

What this attitude ALSO says is that our loving, sovereign God has set the world free. Among the fruits of freedom is love, choice, creativity, intention, and much more. And among the consequences of freedom is that we are vulnerable to harms' way.

Does this diminish God's sovereignty, omnipresence, or omnipotence? Let me answer that question with another: I love my two sons more than I can say. If they ask to go sledding, does my love compel me to deny them their request out of concern that they might get hurt? Raising children requires us to gradually relinquish control so that our children may discover responsible freedom. It requires us to realize that part of loving our children is our desire for them to fully experience the fruits of freedom -- which will bring with it ecstasy and tragedy.

This is how I understand God. God love for us is incontestable. No evidence can undermine it. Our freedom opens the possibility for both ecstasy and tragedy. When tragedy strikes, God's heart is the first to break. . . .

• even as any loving parent's heart breaks when his or her child appears at the door after losing his front teeth while sledding;
  
  
  
• even as the hearts of the parent's in that Pennsylvanian town are broken by the loss of a dozen of their children on flight 800.
  
  
  

In the end, it's not about second guessing ourselves . . . Nor second guessing God's concern. It's about exercising our freedom in best way we know how -- and loving God as we seek to find our way amongst life's choices.

The other quality of the past week's events which I want to lift up is the love within this community which became palpably present as these circumstances unfolded. In every conversation I had, again and again there was the dual realization of how much Tim means to us all, AND how much we each mean to each other. Each time a group of people confronts a crisis, it is possible for division to rule their hearts . . . And it is possible for a deeper sense of community to emerge. As a relative newcomer to Plymouth, I am a witness to the community which has emerged from this crisis. The ground for that community is tilled week after week,

• by praying together;
  
  
• discerning together;
  
  
• pondering our choices and making commitments together;
  
  
• and practicing love as we reach out to those in need, week in, and week out.
  
  
  

While crisis may be the crucible for community, let us remember that the fruits of community are available to us, even when we are not in crisis mode.

We can heighten our love and appreciation for each other. . . .
And we can open our hearts to the presence of God in our lives, and in our life together.
In this way, we will exercise our freedom as children of God.


Amen.