"Who, Me?" - Isaiah 6:1-8 - June 15, 2003

Last weekend my son and I launched his jet ski. After each of us had a chance to take it for a joyride I motored in and tied it to the dock. I asked my son if we could leave it in the water since the weather had finally turned nice. He agreed and suggested I cover it before we left the lake. He left for work and I attended to some other things before heading for home. About the time we were packing the car I remembered that my son had asked me to cover the jet ski. I retrieved the cover and headed for the dock.

I stepped aboard the jet ski and began to pull the cover over the bow. Something seemed strange. The water on the deck was up past my ankles and the jet ski seemed unstable. I looked to the stern and the back end was under water. "Something is not right," I thought to myself and stepped onto the dock. In the process the jet ski almost capsized. I pulled off the seat to see if there was water in the engine and much to my chagrin it was half full. There I was, staring at my son’s pride and joy, wondering what to do. The trailer was sitting near by but my son’s car is the only one with a hitch. I bought a new car last summer and I haven’t gotten around to installing a hitch. All I could say at that moment was, "Why me?"

As a father I felt totally responsible for rescuing my son’s craft. I had visions of it sitting at the bottom of the lake within a few hours. My options were limited. I could wait until my son got off work but that would be late that night. Working in the dark would be a real problem. I could tie it up to the dock so it couldn’t sink, but then how would we get it to the ramp? Fortunately I spotted a neighbor who had a hitch on his truck. I asked if he would help me and he willingly obliged. About 45 minutes later the jet ski was sitting on the trailer on dry land. "Thank God," I said, feeling somewhat proud of myself that I had saved my son’s pleasure craft from an inevitable doom. After all, isn’t that what Fathers are for?

Being a father has its moments. I sometimes wonder how my dad raised four boys. I think I know how he would respond to that question. He would say, "I had your mother to help me." I am sure that there were many questions when my dad would say, "Why me?" My dad is a Christian man and I am positive that he must have said to himself on many occasions; "You’ve chosen me to raise these four boys?"

I have raised three children and helped to raise three step children. As a father you feel responsible for their safety and well being. You feel the need to teach them and prepare them so they can make it in the world. There are also times when you have to rescue them from sinking situations. Sometimes its an overwhelming task and you wonder why God chose you for fatherhood.

Isaiah was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of being God’s spokesperson. He found himself in the midst of a changing society. His task wasn’t that of fatherhood, but he was challenged with the responsibility of being God’s liaison to the community of faith. Feeling lost and disillusioned he didn’t believe he was up to the task. He confessed he needed help. He told God he was a man of unclean lips, unable to say what he meant and therefore in need of forgiveness.

I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Isaiah to reach that point. It’s not easy for any man to humble himself and admit that he is unworthy at the task at hand. I know there are times when I feel at a loss for words and sometimes say things I don’t mean. Although I don’t always do the right thing I have learned that you are further ahead by admitting your shortcomings, asking for forgiveness and then seeking help.

Since we live in a society that teaches, models and advocates self sufficiency, personal success and independence, we are not accustomed to asking for help when we find ourselves, (forgive the pun) in "deep water." We are also not in the habit of asking God for forgiveness when we have made a mistake.

Isaiah had reached a point in his life where he realized his vulnerability. It was a sad time, as the good King, Uzziah, had died. Isaiah was close to him and in the midst of his loss he sensed the awesome presence of God. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory," he said.

Isaiah came to the realization that God’s responsibility is millions of times greater than the fate of a sinking jet ski. God is the God of all creation. God is to be worshipped. God is there for us to turn to in times of trouble. God is there to forgive us when we fail.

It is rare when I hear of a man who has had an extraordinary encounter with God like Isaiah did. Men don’t talk about emotional moments or feelings of the overwhelming presence of God. They are either skeptical or too embarrassed to speak of such events. Most of our encounters with God are on a very small scale. Rather than experience winged seraphims and shaking thresholds and smoked filled houses, our experiences are more like little tickles, pounding hearts or tiny miracles.

Rather than be shaken up and respond to God by being God’s agents, we perceive God as a quiet, calming, healing presence, who is there when we need it. God for us has become like a socket wrench in the wood shop. We call upon the size of God we need for a particular problem or challenge rather than see God as the great carpenter of our lives.

Isaiah sought the help of the Lord and the Lord responded by forgiving him. He was given a taste of a burning coal in the temple, symbolizing his absolution. There was no longer any reason to feel guilty. The Lord then said, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? In an act of gratitude for the grace of God, Isaiah then committed himself to the challenge. He said to God, "Here am I, send me." Now that he was forgiven he was free to serve.

Every father here today is challenged with the awesome task of taking care of their family. It is no less true for those women present who have the task of raising children or attending to their husband’s needs. Even those who aren’t parents are still challenged with many responsibilities, i.e., to their employer, their studies, their community, or their friends. All of us have reached some point where we have said to God, "You want me?"

Over the years I have observed my father’s willingness to serve the church. Even before I was born I learned of the time my dad helped to build a church camp over 60 years ago, which is still in operation today. I remember the time my dad coached the church softball team and made sure every member of the team got to play. It wasn’t about winning, it was all about being the church.

My dad had it rough as a kid and therefore he made an extra effort to see that his sons had it better than he did. But what I remember the most about my dad was his commitment to the annual church fish fry. My dad was in business and he spent most of his life traveling and working behind a desk. But at the fish fry he was in charge of cleaning the pots and pans and skillets. I don’t know if he felt close to God in those moments but I will never forget how hard he worked and how committed he was.

God calls us all to do things that seem bazaar. Just as he chose Isaiah to be a spokesperson he chooses each of us to fulfill some act of service, even when we don’t feel adequate to perform it. God wants us all not to take God for granted. God surrounds us with overwhelming love and grace. God wants us to acknowledge God’s presence and respond by stepping forward and making the same commitment that Isaiah made when he said, "Here am I, send me."

Send me where, to do what? To be willing to ask for help when we are in over our heads. To seek God’s forgiveness when we have fallen short. To humble ourselves and serve God as agents of the faith.

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