"Hope for Anxious People" - Mark 13:24-37 - December 1, 2002

Philip Gulley spends Christmas with his mother-in-law, Ruby, who lives in Paoli, Indiana. Each year, Herb, from a local department store, sets up a nativity scene on the courthouse lawn. Each year the Holy family occupies the southwest corner of the square but no one complains. But Christmas isn’t official until Wilson Roberts decorates his variety store, which he does the day after Thanksgiving. Each year the same ornaments and displays go up, a cardboard cutout of Rudolf, a strand of tinsel that hangs on the counter, and a bucket of candy canes which are placed by the cash register.

One year Philip stopped in the variety store to buy a nativity set on the day after Thanksgiving. His wife thought it was about time they purchased one. Wilson’s store motto was "We have it, if we can find it." Philip went in the store where he found Roberts smoking a cigar. "I’d like to buy a nativity set," he said. "Well, I know we have one, if we can just find it," said Roberts. He looked all over the store until he finally found one under the candy display. He opened up the dusty box and all the figures were there. "That will be twelve dollars," Roberts told him. But Philip noticed that the cow was missing an ear. "How about ten?" he countered. Roberts said, "You got a deal."

Philip brought the French made, genuine plaster from Paris, nativity set home. That was the last time he saw Roberts, since he died the next year. When Philip and his wife drove by the variety store the following Thanksgiving they noticed it was closed. It seems that Wal-Mart moved in and no one re-opened the old variety store. He reflected on the day he bought the nativity set. He remembered Roberts looking everywhere for it, searching through old shelves and boxes until he finally found it. Sometimes we have to do the same for God. We have to look in remote places to discover the presence of the Almighty.

Every year Philip Gulley and his wife place their nativity set on the piano, right next to their front door. It is a reminder to them that during the craziness and business of the Christmas season, they should remember the One who told them not to be anxious about anything. Rather, they should pause and remember what Christmas is really all about. (from Christmas Stories for the Heart, by Alice Gray)

Now that we are approaching Christmas, many people are becoming anxious. Some have no idea what gifts to buy for their loved ones. Others have parties to plan for or attend. Then there’s all those school programs, church programs and community programs that demand our time and energy. When we add to that the crowds at the malls, the inability to find a parking space and the short tempers of people, the season simply overwhelms us.

Like many of you the Wagner family is struggling to find a time when everyone can be together. Christmas will be especially meaningful to us this year since we have two new additions to the family, a grandson and granddaughter, but trying to coordinate the family schedule seems impossible. What if they all can’t come? Will Christmas be the same?

When people are anxious they feel as though they are losing control. That’s because they are powerless to make things go the way they would like. When you add the winter-like weather we are experiencing, a smaller bonus check than usual and the possibility of our nation going to war, it feels as though our world is caving in on us.

This is exactly how the disciples felt. They were powerless to overcome the Romans and the persecution of believers was taking its toll. All seemed hopeless, as though the end of the world could happen at any time. The anxiety of the disciples took on cosmic overtones, thus the words, "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken."

When we are overtaken with anxiety we become blind to the presence of God. We can’t see into the future and all seems hopeless. Consequently we want some sort of "sign" to assure us. When people become anxious they are filled with fear and easily distracted. Just about anything can lead us down a path of further despair.

I had a student this past semester who has recently gotten her life back together and was pursuing a degree in Human Services. About three weeks into the course she received a visit from her x husband who made some threatening remarks. It scared her to the point of dropping our of school. It was unfortunate, but rather than stay focused on her goal she became filled with fear and withdrew.

Jesus told the disciples that the way to deal with anxiety was to stay in a state of preparedness. "Take heed, watch," he said. To watch meant to stay alert, to be in a constant state of readiness.

When I was in the Navy during the Vietnam War, each officer was required to stand watch for a four-hour period about every three or four days. While the rest of the crew slept, you were responsible for any decision that had to be made and to watch for enemy ships, enemy aircraft, hazardous weather conditions or any emergency that would endanger the ship and its crew.

One particular night we were steaming in the Gulf of Tonkin. The air wing had completed its nightly bombing runs over North Vietnam. We were taking on fuel from a supply ship. The weather was severe, high winds and seas, which only added to the anxiety of the night. The navigator was worried about colliding with the supply ship but we couldn’t change course until we had replenished. He was extremely nervous, so much so that he forgot to keep an eye on our position. Finally, one of his men alerted him to the fact that we were dangerously close to Hanoi. If they detected us they could easily launch missiles at us and destroy us without warning. The officer on the bridge had to calm the navigator down and remind him to check the charts and verify our location. A few minutes later we turned the ship around and headed in the opposite direction.

Being watchful means that we stay alert, paying attention to details but not allowing circumstances to keep us from staying on track. It requires one to remain calm, being aware of the bigger picture and to rely on others to help us. Jesus wanted his disciples to be aware of the bigger picture. He reminded them that they couldn’t control everything, to remember his teachings and to remain calm.

God will come, Jesus announced, but God will come when God is ready. Advent is the season of surprises. Many unexpected things will happen in the next four weeks. Jesus wants us to anticipate that God will come, especially when we least expect it to happen. Jesus didn’t tell the disciples exactly how or when God would come, but only that God would come, thus assuring them of God’s never ending presence.

Something very unexpected has happened in the state of Ohio. The Buckeyes are going to the championship game in Tempe, Arizona. Most sports writers think that Ohio State is overrated and doesn’t have a chance for the national championship. College football fans remember the late, Woody Hayes, former coach of the Buckeyes. Unfortunately his career ended when he slugged an opposing player who intercepted a pass late in the game. Columnist Bob Greene interviewed Woody shortly before his final illness. He asked him if anything was more important than winning. Woody responded, "Yes, the important thing is not always to win. The important thing is always to have hope."

Jesus also tamed the anxiety of the disciples by illustrating the presence of God with the parable of the fig tree. Just as they can be assured that the fig tree will blossom at the beginning of summer, they can be assured that God will blossom when the times call for God’s intervening power. To reassure them, Jesus makes reference to the cyclical pattern of the fig tree as a way of describing the cyclical pattern of God.

As I write this sermon the snow is falling. We are expecting about 2 inches this evening. Winter is upon us, it’s cold outside. Soon the ground will be frozen, the skies turning mostly gray throughout the next four months. But, alas there is hope, for in the spring the snow will melt and the ground will thaw. Once again the flowers will break through and blossom, just as the fig tree. You can count on it, just as you can count on the fact that God will come again.

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