We took a trip to the Far East…of Maine. There we visited
the, ironically, West Quoddy Light. The next day we enjoyed the power of the
Reversing Falls as the tide rushed in. A little while later we stood as
miniscule people in proportion to a huge Cruise ship docked at Eastport. Corona
virus brought her to a stand-still. The docking fee is $50,000 a month. It’s a
win-win for the people of Eastport. They get help with their new pier costs and
if a natural disaster should strike, the entire population can fit onboard!
One can’t play all week so we headed home by way of a road
less traveled. We drove there by way of Rte 1 with quaint towns and much
traffic. We went home by way of Rte 9 into Bangor. It was beautiful scenery as
we made our way down out of mountainous range gazing at the valleys stretching
out below us. The road was wide and well cared for and less traveled.
As we approached Bangor to its northeast great black ominous
clouds piled up like a mountain range of its own. Occasional raindrops crashed
on our windshield. We pulled into town and found food at a drive through. Then
we got out of Dodge heading southwest. But one cannot eat a well dressed
chicken sandwich with barbecue sauce and drive. We pulled into a rest area, and
so did the rain!
After eating, the
restrooms beckoned. I pulled out my umbrella, opened the door, raised the
umbrella and pushed the button. As I stepped under its circle of grace I
noticed two things. First how the rain surrounded me like a curtain and
secondly that the rain was a warm summer rain. I experimented with tilting the
umbrella this way and that but concluded it was best straight over me.
I began to muse how it is to walk under an umbrella of
grace. It’s not that the rain does not touch us or affect us, but that we are
adequately protected. It walks with us. It can tilt according to our needs as
we walk along. How like walking with Jesus in our heart. He is both a
historical reality and a spiritual living dynamic that does life with us. Life
can touch us and affect us but we are adequately protected.
Imagine with me I am tired of the constraints of grace. After
all I am not completely protected from life. A wind gust might make things
difficult or a misplaced umbrella might let my back get somewhat wet. Besides,
the rain is warm and I just saw some other people playing in the rain. So bit
by bit I abandon my place under grace.
Indeed the concept of boundaries and consequence becomes the
problem for me. I begin to prefer to build my umbrella out of the god of
tolerance. Everybody do whatever they wish, well to some degree. But an
unintended consequence comes with my new philosophy. I find I am offended by
certain things and others are offended by what doesn’t offend me. So it seems
good to remove the visible signs of boundaries. I remember praying at a public
school graduation just one day after the ruling against prayer. The local Catholic
Priest and I were the last to ever pray over students going out into the world.
It would be offensive. We see battles over the Ten Commandments and other
visual reminders of a right and a wrong to life. So we live our lives on the
basis of offensive vs. non-offensive and the media trumpets popular opinion vs.
contrary opinion in 2 minute sound bites, whatever sells better. And we watch
as the news tells us how trustworthy they are as they all broadcast the same
stories with varying opinions.
The umbrella which was once grace is now the law of
unintended consequences. The restless tide of popular opinion creates a roaring
fall as it goes out and does the same as it returns. It’s twisting current
writhes and circles seemingly without reason. Who can say what is right and what is wrong? “I
discovered God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed
everything going on under the sun, and really it is all absurd without meaning –
like a chasing of the wind.” So we thought to ourselves “let’s rewrite the
rules. Let’s change the labels and life will be better.”Ecc.1:13-14
We are discovering the boundaries of grace are neither weak
nor wimpy. Right and wrong is not just a matter of interpretation according to
who is in the driver’s seat. Grace is massive. There is a radical wildness
about it orchestrated and driven by the Creator. The matter of opinion concerning
offense does not determine its character nor its judgments. To enter this place,
to become a Christ one, one must become a man to whom something has happened.
He is offended: by his own heart and behavior. He cries out for a new heart, a
transplant brought about by God’s Radical Acceptance in Christ
Jesus no Exceptions.
The ominous towers of deep black layers and layers of clouds
are gathering just to our northwest. Flashes appear in them. Lightening back-lights
some cloud peaks. Rumbling is in the distance. The wind is picking up. Fat rain
drop are precursor of the massive storm on its way. What umbrella what road
what rest stop will you find in the midst of your storm?
