Sermon: Cheering Us On

Sermon preached by Rev. Emily Tanis-Likkel, Eagle Harbor Church, UCC        

Hebrews 11:29-12:2

August 19, 2007

Cheering Us On

            Who are some of your heroes?  Your first-grade teacher?  Your favorite author?  A great humanitarian?  T.A. Barron, who wrote The Hero's Trail: A Guide for a Heroic Life, wrote, “Heroes are more than companions on our journey. They remind us who we are, and who we can become. In truth, when we follow the hero's trail, we are entering into ourselves—into our hopes, struggles, fears, and ideals . . . they remind us how far we can go. How high we can climb.” For many people, coaches have a profound impact.  They cheer us on when we feel like quitting.  They tell us what we need to get the job done – even if it’s difficult.  I had very patient coaches when I made some attempts at playing sports in my youth.  I was pretty hard on myself for being a bit uncoordinated. I remember studying the weeds in left field, praying that the ball wouldn't come to me.   I remember not being able to get the volleyball over the net.  I could play a decent game of ping-pong, and that was about it.  I was always surprised that my various coaches never told me to stay home.  Instead, they were, for the most part, very encouraging—even heroic. Whether they are in our lives today, long ago, or even fictional, heroes can teach us, mold us, and give us what we need to keep on going.  They can cheer us on. 

            It is an athletic metaphor that is used in today's text: “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  We can all use some encouragement at one time or another in the race of life.  When I think of encouraging words, what comes to mind for me is Sandra Boynton's book Yay, You: Moving out, Moving Up, Moving On.  “Yay you!  You did it!  You're done. You made it.  You're through.  Oh, what a great moment.  Now what will you do?  There are so many choices.  The world is immense.  Take a good look around and decide what makes sense.”  The book goes through many options for what one can do in life, such as going on adventures or staying home and eating chocolate.  They are words that a great mentor would say.  You're doing great!  What's next?  What do you need to get there?   I know that you can do it! 

            Later today I'll be going to an open house for one of our members who will be going off to college this week.  The transition of going to college is a time when we can use some encouragement.  It’s exciting, but also scary.  I know that for me, it’s the logistics of the new thing that worries me.  I usually don't mind trying something new, I'm just a little anxious about finding my way there, and knowing where to park.  My cousin Scott once told me that the hardest thing about his first job as a Physician's Assistant was knowing the office etiquette.  He knew how to bandage a wound, but he was unsure of where to put his packed lunch when he arrived in the morning. We have anxiety-producing transitions in the life of faith too: there are forks in the road, and we run into obstacles.  We try to discern where God is leading us, we try to see God with us in the journey, but sometimes we trip on debris in the road.  It can be our own sin yucking up our way, or the culture being on a different wavelength than the faith one.  Many things vie for our attention.  The pressures to make a lot of money and look very important don't help matters.  This is when the great cloud of witnesses comes in.  They are the heroes who sweep in and remind us of their story, that God took care of them, and that they know that we can do it. 

            It feels so encouraging to be cheered on.  I remember running Race for the Cure a few years ago and people were stationed in different areas, cheering on the runners.  At the end of the race I ran into the arena where tons of people were cheering us on.  Many of them were the runners who had finished the race.  What a great feeling.  Just when I felt like I couldn't run any further, someone was cheering me on.  This happens in the life of faith.  Hebrews reminds us that the Christian life is like a race.  It has a destination of eternal life with Christ, and there are other runners along the way.  Those cheering us on at the sidelines are those who have completed the race. 

            Heroes of history cheer us on.  I heard John Thomas give the keynote address at our annual conference meeting last spring.  He is the President of the United Church of Christ. He quoted Roger Shinn, one of the writers of the UCC Statement of Faith, as saying “Every time I look back, I meet the eyes of my forebears steadfastly looking forward.”  John Thomas cited various forerunners in the tradition that came to make up the UCC.  This marks the 50th Anniversary of the denomination.  Our Congregational history goes back to the year 1620.  This is when John Robinson was pastor of the group of believers who came to be known as the Pilgrims.  When they set out from Europe, he said, “The Lord has yet more light and truth to break forth out of his holy Word.” Heroes in our denomination have made many firsts for Protestantism: Lemuel Haynes, the first African-American ordained; Antoinette Brown, the first woman ordained; and William R. Johnson, the first openly gay person ordained.  These pioneers paved the way for all those who followed. Their memories serve to encourage those whose faith is lagging. We are also coming up on the 125th Anniversary of this congregation. The memorial services I've participated in here have reminded me that there is a long legacy of heroes in this church.  Faithful people, working to make a difference in this community and in our world.  Many here today have worked countless hours of ministry; we see some of what they do, but the extent of it only God knows.  They are heroes.  Big Anniversaries often prompt us to look back to see where we have come from, and to look ahead to see where we are going. 

            The faith witnesses we learn about in the Bible can encourage us.  The Hebrews text gives us some examples of these, including Rahab.  “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.”  What word do we hear from Rahab?  Society told her that she was worthless, that her sins had deemed her as good as dead.  But Rahab was faithful.  She showed hospitality to her enemies.  The story of Rahab can give us encouragement when we are at odds with other people.   When our gut tells us to do something different than what is expected of us, we can look to Rahab.  The heroes of the Bible were far from perfect.  They struggled, made mistakes, and had doubts about God.  The Israelites passed through the Red Sea, but went on to make idols and complain “We had it better in Egypt!”  But they kept on trudging along, and we can learn from them.  We can imagine them at the sidelines waving banners and shouting out “You can do it!  You can be faithful, trusting and loving!”  What Biblical figure may act as your coach?  Does Mary the mother of Jesus ever mentor you through her stories?  I can meditate on her response to the angel Gabriel who told her that she would bear God's Son: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word,” and learn about trusting God.  In Bible Study last month we shared some favorite Bible passages.  One member talked about the story of Ruth, a story of loyalty and love.  Ruth said to her Mother-in-law Naomi, “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”  Another spoke of Isaiah the prophet who said, “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid.”  The prophet reminds us that God rescues us, and gives us grace.

            The great cloud of witnesses includes those we know who have died.  Members of our families who have died can be heroes to us.  I performed an outdoor wedding of some friends a couple of weeks ago, and they had brought a teepee to the backyard that the man had grown up camping in.  They brought it because it meant that his mom was there in spirit.  She had died only a few months prior, and had loved camping in that teepee.  They had wonderful memories there as a family, and her memorial service was held inside.  It was moving to be in that simple yet strong structure that had withstood the test of time, and that had held so much love and family and stories.  My friend was guided by the legacy of his mom.  Our companions on the journey who die before us still have a lasting legacy among us.  I read an article in the Seattle Times last week about a couple in Seattle who are grave tenders, an occupation that is common in Britain but is largely unheard of in the United States.   They clean gravestones and place flowers at them in place of the loved ones of the deceased who don't live in the area. Grave tending--what a tenderhearted occupation.  It elevates the importance of honoring those who have gone before us.  The couple was married in a cemetery in Seattle several years ago so that their relatives could be present.  Even though their souls are elsewhere, it makes sense to me to have a place we can go to remember and honor loved ones who have died.  They are part of the great cloud of witnesses. 

            The great cloud of witnesses is vast.  It includes members of ancient times, recent history, and also we too will join this cloud.  What will our legacy be to those who run the race?  Carol Kuykendall who wrote the book Five-Star Families talked about how she was intentional about modeling faith to her children when they were young.  As they grew, she would put post-it notes with Bible verses on the bathroom mirror and refrigerator, and they would roll their eyes.  She'd play Christian music in the car and say a prayer at bedtime.  Would this make any difference in their lives, she wondered.  Years later, when her three children were grown, married, and she had one grandchild, she was at the hospital wondering if her husband would make it out alive following bleeding in his brain.  Her kids were there for her.  They played Christian music in the car, they prayed.  She went home to find post-it notes with Bible verses on her refrigerator and bathroom mirror.  They got through it by faith, and her husband lived.  We can cheer each other on when living by faith becomes difficult.  We can say a prayer for another, give some encouragement, and tell a life-giving story. 

            In this life, we have a chance to be a hero for those in our present lives and those in the future.  We can encourage others now, and also later from the sidelines through our legacy. Barron wrote that heroism takes “Perseverance . . . courage, creativity and faith. Also a sense of what's right, a touch of wonder, and as much humility as we can carry . . . a sense of humor.”   The cloud of witnesses we look to as we live our lives can help us live heroic lives.  Heroes guide and encourage us.  Spiritual heroes are mentors who help us to see the big picture.  They help us discern where to go next or what God might be telling us.    

            The ultimate hero is Jesus.  Jesus cheers us on – as pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  He has walked this road, he has run the race.  He suffered and died, he knows human pain.  He works on our faith, perfecting it, making it complete.  Like a great coach, he encourages us to do the right thing, even when we don't feel like it; even when it’s difficult.  Jesus reminds us that the ultimate love is being willing to die for another person.  Jesus reminds us that the ultimate justice is giving up everything and following him.  Jesus reminds us that when things are difficult, he is right there with us, our guide our encourager our friend.

            Sandra Boynton's book Yay You! Ends like this: (Imagine Jesus saying this to you) You already have wit. You already have style. You have very kind eyes and a dazzling smile. But now . . . But now . . . But now . . . But NOW . . . Hey! What's the hurry, anyhow? There are places to get to! And Projects to do! People to talk with, and Lunches to Chew! But stopping a while is okay, too. And whatever you do—now or later, big or small, loud or quiet—whatever you do, don't worry. Just try it. Whatever you do, whether near or so far, I know you'll be great. You already are.

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