The Road

Single-mindedness on the Road

A Sermon preached at River East Mennonite Brethren Church

April 29, 2012

 Introduction:

Sit on stool pretending to drive.

Distractions:

            Cell phone

            Sun glasses

            Map for directions

            Eating some fruit/nuts

            Music playing

Am I ready for this trip! I’ve waited long and finally got the time away from work to get a nice vacation.

Let’s see—have I got what I need? The luggage is in the back, my cell phone, sun glasses and map are readily available. And some snacks right behind me. Let’s go.

Starts driving, then quickly reach for the phone. Spend a few moments on the phone. While talking reach for the map and relate the route you plan to take.

Hang up and drive quietly for a few moments.

Boy would some peanuts and a banana taste good about now.

Reach back for some snacks and begin eating—peanuts and a banana (need to have these available)

Oops! That was a close call. Better be careful.

Back on the phone, reading a text.

I better watch my driving, but I really need to answer this text.

Quickly enters a message and sends.

Just then a police car pulls up and police tell me to pull over. I put down the phone and stop.

Oh, Oh, looks like that police wants me to stop. I don’t think I was speeding. Wonder what he wants.

Hi officer. What appears to be the problem?

Cell phone?—yes I used it for texting. That’s against the LAW! Sorry, I’ll put it down.

A fine? $200.00, Wow.

You want me to focus on driving—that may be hard. I need to focus or you will suggest that I pull over and quit driving. Wow! You are serious aren’t you? Ok, ok I’ll focus on the road.

SCRIPTURE READING OF PSALM 119:1--10

You're blessed when you stay on course,

walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD.

2] You're blessed when you follow his directions,

doing your best to find him.

3] That's right—you don't go off on your own;

you walk straight along the road he set.

4] You, GOD, prescribed the right way to live;

now you expect us to live it.

5] Oh, that my steps might be steady,

keeping to the course you set;

6] Then I'd never have any regrets

in comparing my life with your counsel.

7] I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;

I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.

8] I'm going to do what you tell me to do;

don't ever walk off and leave me.

9] How can a young person live a clean life?

By carefully reading the map of your Word.

10] I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;

don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. \

Psalms 119:1-10 (MSG)

I love road trips. Get me behind the wheel for a trip and I am all smiles. We require roads to satisfy our curiosity—we have frequently traveled north on Henderson Hwy merely to look at the scenery, to check out Christmas lights or to view some new house construction, or even to check whether Half-Moon Drive-in has reopened for the season.

What are roads? Symbols of our journey.

We speak of the road to glory; the road to freedom; the road to victory; the road to spirituality; the road to God.

These are not merely physical paths along which we can travel, but rather symbols of our needs and longings. Let’s consider roads for a few moments this morning.

ROADS are the most frequently used means by which we journey. We build, inherit, re-route, destroy and rebuild roads to address our needs and longings. Ever notice how often roads are a significant part of the news, and not only because of the many potholes along Winnipeg streets. One group wants a road re-built; another group opposes the building of a new road. Just think back to the construction of the Moray St bridge—what a divisive news item. Or think of the Chief Pequis extension—it would force the relocation of the Millennium Gardens.

Civilizations build roads, and roads foster civilizations. Isolation is removed when a road is built. We require roads for essential commerce. The devout depend upon roads for pilgrimages to sacred places and armies rely upon them to pillage and move troops to killing fields.

About two months ago I read a book on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. The author pointed out that among the many transforming aspects of his walk, hospitality was a feature of the communities along the route. Recently, I have again been reminded of this as I have read the reports from Arli Klassen and Keith Regehr as they walked a portion of the Camino Road. Their pictures and stories tell us that their single-minded walk of discipleship on the road includes the hospitality of others.

Every institution of society, and that includes the church, is transformed by the comings and goings made possible by roads. A road is a place of discovery, encounter, trial, opportunity, death and new life.

Roads are essential for life in community and between communities. Roads are so much more than physical stretches of pavement. Roads are the arteries of vitality for communities. They are more than transportation corridors; they are also transformation vehicles. We frequently use road as a metaphor. Whether it is a coach telling his players to focus on the immediate game with the ultimate goal (think Stanley Cup!) in mind or a politician campaigning for votes or a medical team working for a cure, all are seeking to transform those involved. A transformed viewpoint is needed. Think back to the 2010 Winter Olympics and the constant reference to “owning the podium”. The road to victory and glory meant focus, focus, focus!

Whether the road is involving sports events or educational pursuits the single-mindedness of the person on the road is the only way to success.

Just as a road is vital to our physical lives, so a road is necessary for our spiritual lives. Our faith journey depends upon roads that transform us as we travel. Roads that transform by providing us the opportunity to be both recipient and giver of hospitality. What does this look like?

 Walking God’s road requires justice and righteousness (see Amos 5:24) As we walk God’s road we are transformed into the beings God desires. This means a responsiveness to God’s passion for the world and a transformation of ourselves as we focus on Christ. Our journey homeward includes those suffering from injustice or neglect. The transforming power of the road must change us to bring a just and loving environment for others.

Last week Mary Anne spoke about the sea and the need for Peter to focus on Jesus not on the waves or his companions or the ship. Transformation takes place as one focuses on Jesus.

Transforming roads both ready us for the journey with God and awaken us to being with God.

In Acts 8:26-39 we have the story of Philip meeting the man from Ethiopia. This too is a story of transformation. Both men were on the road of discipleship. The eunuch was focused on one thing—to learn more about God. Philip was focused on one thing—to serve that same God. This focused commitment to obedience led to transformed lives. The eunuch went home rejoicing for he had obtained what he had come for. Philip was now out of Jerusalem and ready to go anywhere; God sent him to preach with conviction.

Their focus on trusting God led to total transformation. Being on the road requires focus, focus, focus. Just as someone who drives in today’s maddening world needs to focus—no distractions to add to the dangers.

We read the first verses of Psalm 119. The Psalmist spent years on the road—avoiding death at the hands of Saul or later, moving armies into enemy territory. The Psalmist was transformed as he walked the road and focused on discipleship with God. Let’s listen carefully to his advice.

As we go along the road planned for us by God, we must stay the course, take steady steps keeping to God’s course and not go off on our own. We are to learn from God’s pattern and do as he says.

Sometimes we may need to pause and carefully study a map or check the road signs. All this requires that focus; that single-mindedness needed to follow God.

Let’s recap God’s message via the Psalmist.

To follow the road towards God I need to

focus, focus, focus on the following:

Stay  the course
Don’t  go off on my own

Walk straight along the road
Walk steadily - keeping to God's course
Learn from God's pattern of right living
Do what God says
Read the map carefully
Observe and obey the road signs

All this I do because I am single-minded in my  pursuit of God

As we contemplate this single-mindedness, let me conclude with a poem that challenges us in our daily walk .

THE ROAD MORE TRAVELLED

Where two roads diverged in a yellow wood

Robert Frost decided he would take

The road less travelled,

And that for him made all the difference

In his world.

It still makes a difference today,

But--can we continue

To take the road less travelled

Or do we need to get onto the road

Where the people are

                            

The road less travelled may be leisurely

And filled with pensive solitude,

But the road less travelled also

Keeps the traveller from relationships

Of caring and of love.

How can we impact people

If we take the road less travelled

And stay away from the traffic flow of life?

For us to impact anyone,

For us to start a change,

We must break stride and walk

In the midst of traffic

Foul and full;

Uncomfortable and maybe uncontrolled

In order to transform and be transformed.

                Geegebe 87-10 (revised 00-11-10 & 12-04-24)