MOVING INTO THE LIGHT

I dared myself to do it. It wasn’t that hard. If my brothers could do it, so could I. It couldn’t be that hard, could it? On the one hand, I could see the other side. On the other hand, to get from here to there, I had to go through a seemingly endless expanse of darkness. I peered into the gloom and decided against going in. After all, there may be snakes, scorpions and other dreaded creatures lurking in the shadows. But then I looked past the darkness and saw the lone ray of light pushing its way in from the other side – as if it were coming to meet me and lead me through the darkness. So I began to crawl – the floor of our house a few inches above me – the gravel on the ground barely touching me. With eyes fixed on the light, I made my way slowly into the darkness.

Unlike my brief, voluntary trip through the shadows into the light, there are many in our world who are forced to live in perpetual darkness – the darkness of moldy bread for food, the darkness of rat infested slums for housing, the darkness of human trafficking for labor.

The newly released movie based on a true story, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” captures well the darkness in which many people live. Chris Gardner, a highly intelligent, hard-working man, who didn’t get to know his father until he was twenty-eight years old, makes a firm decision that he never wants that for his own son. So when life becomes too stressful, and his wife leaves him, Chris is determined to keep their son. Even when things get worse for them financially – from being evicted from their apartment and then a motel, to having to stand in a long line for a bed at a shelter, to spending a night in a men’s bathroom in the train station – Chris keeps his promise to himself and his son. He works hard to go through the darkness, but at times his life overflows with so much darkness that it seems like he would never see the light.

What about us? Does it seem that, at times, the darkness is so deep and so strong that we’ll never see the light?

On this day when we close our eyes to one year while opening them to the next, what do we see?

Are we focused on the darkness in and around us? Or will we focus on the light that can overcome the darkness?

God, the same God who, in the beginning, created the heavens and the earth, invites us to believe that darkness does not have the last word.

Jesus, the same Jesus who, in the beginning, was the Word that was with God, invites us to believe that we, like him, can overcome the darkness in our lives.

The Spirit of God, the same Spirit who, in the beginning, moved over the face of the waters, breathing life and bringing light into the shadows, invites us to look within and discover the unlimited power that dwells in us.

Most of us have experienced times when we faced a challenge that felt too heavy for us to bear – times when we wondered how we would make it through. But even as we half-trusted God to carry us through, many of us discovered in a new way the faithfulness of God. That’s why remembering what we’ve come through is vital to facing new challenges. That’s why God tells the Israelites to tell their children and their children’s children about what God did for them.

Sometimes remembering is a positive thing. Which reminds me of the story of a couple who were having problems remembering things. . .they decide to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrive at the doctor’s office, they tell her about the problems they are having. After checking the couple out, the doctor tells them that they are physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.

Later that night while watching TV, the man gets up from his chair and heads to the kitchen. His wife asks, "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" "Sure."

She then says, "Don't you think you should write it down?" He replies, "No, I can remember that." She adds, "Well, I would also like some strawberries as well. You better write that down because I know you'll forget that." He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries." She adds, "Well, I would also like whipped cream on top. I know you will forget that, so you better write it down."

With irritation in his voice, he says, "I can remember it. I don't need to write it down!" He then fumes into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes he returns from the kitchen and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment, turns to him and says angrily: "I TOLD you to write it down! You forgot the toast!"

But sometimes forgetting can be a positive thing. Like –

Forgetting what lies behind so we can focus on what lies ahead.
Forgetting what lies behind so the memories of the past do not blind us to the potential of the future.
Forgetting what lies behind so we can move through the darkness and into the light.

God is continually inviting us to create a new future with God. But what will that future look like? Can you imagine it – for yourself, your family, your church?
Christ Church Cathedral is in a highly favorable position. Located in a spiritually strategic area in downtown Hartford, it is in a position to be a light to our blossoming city. For that to happen, it will mean that we all will need to take some risks.

Some of us may need to risk re-ordering our priorities to include time for and with God.
Some of us may need to risk allowing God to be in control of our lives.
Some of us may need to risk believing that we are really loved by God – just as we are.

Whether or not we choose to risk will make a difference in our life as a community.

The difference between being known as a church which stumbles around in the darkness, or as a church which shines brightly for all to see;
The difference between being known as a church where there are few volunteers who quickly burn out, or as a church in which every one does his or her part to let God’s love be known;
The difference between being known as a church where the stewardship is poor and the pews are half empty or as a church where everyone is disciplined about being accounted for and accountable to God.

At one point in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Chris turns to his son, his voice as determined as his eyes, and says, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t do something – even me. Don’t ever give up on your dream, no matter what others who couldn’t achieve theirs say to you.” Like Chris, even in the midst of darkness, we can choose to believe that that power resides in us. We can choose to believe that there is a light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. Jesus, the Word of God, moves in and around our lives, offering healing and hope. God is a God who works with us – helping us to overcome even seemingly impossible odds – but we have to do our part – not God’s part – just our part.

God has a dream for this place – the signs are all around us – a dream I believe God isn’t about to give up on. But God needs each one of us to help make that dream a reality. God needs every one of us – not just the Dean, or the Parish Committee or me – but every one of us to do our part. Are we willing to do our part to make God’s amazing dream for our lives and for this cathedral a reality?