"Keep On Truckin" - Luke 9:51-62 - July 1, 2001

In the early 1920’s Philo Farnsworth was working on a farm, plowing a straight line on a potato farm. His mind was far away, thinking about the possibility of transmitting moving pictures through the air. He had no electronic or engineering background, nor was he a scientist. No one in the world of science would have considered him a serious contender in the chase to find the answer to photographic transmission without the aid of wires.

Scientists from all over the world had been struggling to solve this dilemma and although many had been aided by research grants, no one came up with the answer. So, what chance did Farnsworth, a potato farmer with no education, have?

While plowing, he imagined a different approach. He imagined dividing a screen into long rows just like the field he was plowing, using electricity to create areas of light and darkness at each point along the row. Then stacking the rows on top of each other, he imagined that they could bring to focus a picture. Bingo! The results were better than anything the world of science had ever conceived. It is the very system we still use today.

What did Farnsworth invent? Television. It was his vivid imagination coupled with a propensity toward science that has literally changed the world. But unfortunately he was not credited with the idea since he was only 14 years old. Two business men, George Everson and Les Gorrell took an interest in Farnsworth and invested their life savings in his research. In spite of his age they had faith in him and on September 7, 1927, Farnsworth transmitted history’s first electronic television picture. (From Club Sandwich, by Jess Moody)

The world changed because Philo Farnsworth kept his hands on the plow and never looked back. He was totally focused on an idea, undaunted by people who would say, "That will never work." He was determined and dedicated to his mission of transmitting a picture electronically through the air. At the same time he was a man of the earth, planting potatoes but constantly moving forward. Farnsworth was raised in an old house on the Snake River in Idaho. He was born in a log cabin. His dream became a reality because of his ability to concentrate and not be held back by prejudice, lack of education or family history.

I believe that what Jesus is telling his disciples here in Luke is that to be a person of faith is to be totally focused on the mission; proclaiming the gospel, sharing the good news, spreading God’s endless love.

But, as he illustrates in Luke, things happen in life which distract us, hold us back, or cause us to put that mission on the back burner. He gives the example of a man who can’t proceed because he has to bury his father. Another wants to bid farewell to his family. Jesus says these things will only interrupt your mission. As long as you make excuses you will never be able to keep focused and move forward.

Is Jesus saying we should forget about our families and not take time to attend to important matters like burying our loved ones? I don’t think that is exactly what he meant. Jesus, however is guarding against the practice of making family our primary mission instead of discipleship. He makes these illustrations because we have a tendency to make the Church (its’ mission and ministry) a low priority.

Jesus wants us to be focused, just as Farnsworth was focused since that kind of dedication can change the world. Note that Jesus also tells his followers that they need to be less concerned with matters of security and safety and more concerned with their mission.

To be a follower of Jesus is to be persons who are focused. Unfortunately the television of which Farnsworth helped to create is one of our greatest distractions. Families demand much of our attention too. Sometimes we get so absorbed we forget that as people of faith we have a mission.

Recently my wife and I were driving in the country. We noticed a farmer, tilling a corn field. The blades of the tiller just cleared the tender young corn stalks by a few centimeters. One quick turn in either direction would mean the loss of the precious young plants. In order to complete his task the farmer had to be totally focused on each and every row. He didn’t have time to look back over his shoulder and ponder over the rows he had already completed. He had to keep moving forward, concentrating on each new row as it appeared.

Our discipleship is like that. There are so many needs around us and potential places to be in ministry that we don’t have time to boast of our achievements. Nor do we have time to lament over our failures. We must keep moving, "keep on truckin," continue to keep our hands on the plow, looking ahead. For concentration and dedication will lead to life changing activity.

"Pop" was born to a family with thirteen children in 1879. By the time he was nine years old, both parents had died and his family was split up. Pop went to live with an uncle who put him to work in the fields. He never went to school. He worked in the fields, putting in 12-14 hour days. He liked farming and nothing made him happier than planting seeds, tending to them and then harvesting the crops. It gave him a sense of accomplishment and made him feel close to God.

When in his twenties, Pop’s uncle died and he had to leave the farm. He hoped to own his own farm someday but times were tough. So he went to Chicago to find work. He got a job working for Pullman, making railroad cars. He married and had two children and worked for the railroad for the next 30 years. During World War II times became difficult and Pop took his family in while his son was overseas. People were rationing food and many had fallen on hard times.

Pop decided he wanted to help. He had farming in his veins but there was no farmland on the South Side of Chicago. There was, however plenty of vacant lots. Without bothering to ask for permission, Pop started planting. He planted potatoes, corn, cabbage, squash and carrots. Since food was scarce Pop shared his produce with anyone who had need. All kinds of people were helped, young, old, foreigners, anyone who came. They all got fed from the vacant lots.

When Pop passed away in 1972 his family held an old-fashioned wake. They didn’t expect anyone to come. Most of his friends have died, and they no longer lived in the same neighborhood. On the evening of his wake over two hundred people came from all races, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Those who had been helped had not forgotten. Although twenty five years had passed they still remembered Pop, the man who gave them food to eat. His gardens and generosity had changed their lives. The man who had wanted to be a farmer all his life had indeed fulfilled his dream. (from Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul, Pop’s farm by Meredith Hodges)

Those of you who travel this summer will occasionally hear the words, "Are we there yet?" Sometimes those around us get impatient. They want the journey to hurry up and be over. The truth of the matter is we are not there yet. Discipleship is a life-long process of mobility. Its no accident that in the following verses Jesus tells his disciples to travel light and kick the dust off your shoes when you aren’t received.

We need not feel guilty for failures in ministry. At the same time it will be much easier for us to follow Jesus when we leave our burdens behind. Perhaps this is at the heart of the text. Jesus wants us to live our lives forgiven and free. Looking back can weight us down, and distractions (chores, obligations, minor commitments, etc.) cause us to lose focus. But looking ahead and always being focused on the needs of others at the moment will keep us focused.

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