“Good News for Difficult Times” – Isaiah 40:1-11 – December 7, 2008

Over Thanksgiving my wife and I visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The mountains have always provided a relaxing break for us. They are peaceful on the one hand and awesome on the other. During our visit I had an opportunity to visit an exhibit about the Civilian Conservation Corps or “CCC” who built the roadways and trails in the park. During the Great Depression the US Government put thousands of men to work by giving them the opportunity to construct the Park’s roadway system.

The roadways not only put people back to work, they prepared the way for millions of visitors to enjoy the mountains for decades to come. Ironically, this past September, alumni of the CCC were honored on the 75th anniversary of the program. The roads and trails have provided breathtaking views of the mountains, not to mention safe passage from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina. The trails provide access to many water falls and first hand contact with nature.

The roads and trails built by the CCC in the 1930’s and 40’ opened the door for future generations to enjoy one of our greatest treasures. It just so happens that president-elect Obama is planning to provide a similar program that will provide jobs by employing people to build highways and bridges. Perhaps, Obama, who is a member of the United Church of Christ, is familiar with the words of Isaiah.

Isaiah, the prophet, told the Israelites to prepare the way for the Lord by “making straight a road in the dessert.” At that time the Hebrews lived in captivity by the Babylonians. They had little hope of being set free. Isaiah gave them hope by promising them that God would remove every obstacle that stood in their way of being reunited with God. That also included forgiveness for their sins.

God was more than willing to forgive them for rebelling against God and living as though God did not matter. However, to prepare themselves for a renewed relationship with God Isaiah’s listeners were to make a road, path or trail that would welcome God back into their lives.

We are not currently in a depression but we are in a recession. Unemployment lines are growing, people are losing money in the stock market, housing construction is way down and the entire economy is in peril. Consequently many people are losing hope and many are afraid. We are not in captivity but we are anxious and therefore not free. We need reassurance, hope and a trail that will lead us to recovery.

First, like the Israelites we too can prepare the way by building a path for God. I don’t mean we have to go into the construction business but we can build a path by removing the obstacles in our lives that keep us immobile. I have been observing the construction of the new I-75/I-70 intersection north of Dayton. The first thing they did was acquire the surrounding land by relocating businesses and residences to other sites. In other words they stretched the existing area by hundreds of acres.

In hard times people have a tendency to withdraw and remain in familiar territory, rather than stretch themselves. We may be in a recession but that doesn’t prevent us from visiting the library or museum or taking advantage of church programs. Most all of these are free. This past week there was a story about a woman in Pennsylvania who did some research on alpacas. They produce wool that is popular in clothing. She discovered they were a good investment and so she bought seven alpacas and now has expanded the herd to nine.

Secondly, the paths we build are not always the paths we will travel. Like the CCC workers who built the roads in the Smoky Mountains for future generations, we may be building roads for people who come after us. The Israelites to whom Isaiah spoke did not leave Babylonian captivity. That occurred much later. By listening to Isaiah and heeding his words, they prepared the way for others that followed.

One time a foreman went to check on the work of some laborers on a structure in medieval France. He asked the first worker what he was doing. He said, “Are you blind? I am cutting these huge boulders with primitive tools. I’m sweating under the hot son while doing this backbreaking work and its boring me to death.” The foreman backed away and went to a second laborer who was working on the same structure. “What are you doing?” the foreman asked. The worker said, “I’m shaping these boulders into usable forms according to the plans of the architects. It’s tedious work and very repetitive. But, I earn five francs a week and that supports my family. It’s a job, but it could be worse and it could be better.”

At that point the foreman was a bit more encouraged. He then asked a third worker what he was doing. The worker lifted his eyes to the sky and said, “Why, can’t you see? I’m building a cathedral for God.” The worker would never see the final result of his labors but he knew that what he was doing had purpose and meaning. What he did was for the glory of God and for others who would come much later.

We don’t always see the results of our labor. We have to trust that the paths and roadways we build will be traveled by future generations. What kind of roads are we leaving for our grandchildren?

In our family we like classical music and we have an appreciation for the fine arts. It is a tradition at Christmas time to take our grandchildren to see the Nutcracker. They all dress up in their Sunday best because they will be with us in worship the next day. After the performance we all go out for dinner, then they all spend the night with us, baking cookies or watching a Christmas video. We have been doing this the last eight years.

Our oldest granddaughter, Lindsey, is in ballet. She has been dancing since the age of five. Last year she told us she would like to dance in the Nutcracker some day. A few weeks ago, my wife received an email from Lindsey. It read, “Guess what Grandma, I am going to be in the Nutcracker with the Dayton Ballet.” She was excited and she couldn’t wait to share the good news with her grandparents. She has been selected by her instructor to have a part in the 2010 performance.

You never know how the roads you build will affect future generations. By listening to Isaiah, we can prepare a highway for the coming of the Lord. “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.”

God has made a promise that when we strive to build a path, God will reveal Himself. God wants us to be open to His presence. In difficult times we need the good news of a God who gives us hope and assurance.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio