July 4, 2004
By Jack Price

            Today is the 4^th of July.  I am thankful for national ideals and vision, and thankful for people who have given so much for this dream.  We are living in a time of national dis-ease:  divisiveness in government and between groups of people.  There is also our current involvement in Iraq.  In our society, what we have now is more than disagreement.  It is deep division, polarization, and a diminishing of those who disagree.  We are experience what is truly “a night of tears”.

            This sermon is not about politics or a national birthday.  There is, however, a word of hope from Psalm 30.  What is truth for people of faith can apply to us as citizens as well.  Through the night of weeping, there is an opportunity to learn what is most valuable to us – to re-dream the dream of liberty for all people, reaffirm love for this dream, and re-commit ourselves to the work of making this dream come true.  There is hope that this night of weeping will become a new day of joy.

            This is the first “By Request” sermon, in response to requests by congregational members regarding sermonic themes.  This sermon deals with spiritual fatigue, ways to fight spiritual fatigue and avoid spiritual burnout, and ways to keeping growing spiritually.  At our recent Church Camp, I have had     experience with physical and emotional fatigue.  The hiking, lack of sleep, questionable diet, excitement, and the inevitable friction of living in close quarters all contribute to fatigue.

            Dr. Elizabeth Walker, a friend of many at Crossroads, writes in her new book (Conquer Fatigue) about increasing energy, vitality, and productivity by making health a priority.  She suggests what to eat and not to eat.  She talks about helpful exercise.  Finally, she encourages the practice of good habits for the body as well as good habits for relationships.

            Today New Testament lesson is from Paul’s letter to the Galatians.  It is a passionate and heated letter.  For example, he writes in the first chapter, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the gospel of Christ.”  Then he recounts own journey of faith for two chapters before beginning chapter three with the words, “You foolish Galatians” – are you going to trust religious law or the living Spirit of Jesus?  Then two more chapters are giving to reviews the tension between the Law and grace.  Paul writes, “You were doing so well.  What happened?”

            Finally, he begins to bring the letter to a close.  He writes, “Only thing that counts is faith working through love,” and “Don’t let freedom become an opportunity to devour one another.”  Paul summarizes the Law with these words:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  He identifies the “fruit” of a Spirit-filled life:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  In concluding this letter, Paul advises his friends in Galatia, “If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.”  So, “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.”

            The question we ask is “How?”  How do we live in the Spirit, walking the path of freedom, while staying connected to God?  In looking at my life, I find several practices of mine help.  What do I do?  I read books.  Books on theology are my teachers, challengers, and trustworthy voices.  Works of fiction, especially novels and science fiction, continually provide renewal and spark my imagination.

            I study the bible.  Part of the joy of my job is to study the bible, and prepare bible study lessons for discussion in Sunday School and house church ministry, as well as Sunday morning sermons.  I learn from others as we share together.

            I engage in spiritual practices.  These are usual pretty simple.  The Buddhist monk Thi, Naht Hahn suggests a center approach to breathing that I find helps me be in the present moment – breathe in and relax the body, breathe out and smile.  Cues throughout the day, such as a ringing telephone, can remind me to breathe.  Another simple practice is being alone, without the TV or radio on, or driving in the car without the radio or stereo on.  These are times to engage myself.

            Prayer is an important spiritual practice.  As I pray for others and myself, I find myself being engaged by and engaging God.  Through the practice of intercession, I affirm my partnership with God.

            It is vital for me to participate in a community of faith.  This includes small group life for support and honest feedback.  It also includes corporate worship in which we envision ourselves by faith in the reality that “God’s reign” already accomplished.  Finally, there are meaningful places of ministry through the church.

            I recommend practicing what you believe.  Practice seeking the best for others and self and be open to God’s transforming work in life’s tough times.  Connect your life decisions to your journey of faith.  Seek deep joy in life while you embrace sadness and the very real losses you face.  Learn not to fear sadness and loss because it is true  that embracing sadness opens the space to embrace joy.

          These thoughts apply to our congregation and community at Crossroads.  Our spiritual habits, what we do individually, affect whole body.  How we relate to each other affects our “body’s” health.  As we learn to trust, we can release our control issues.  We can practice speaking lovingly after listening to each other, and be open to the joy of community. 

            We have important discussions coming up as a congregation.  There are questions that challenge our fear, our will, and our willingness to walk by faith.  They’re all related questions:  Do we trust God?  Do we still believe in God’s call to be church?  Will we invest ourselves, individually and together, in being the church of Jesus?

Will we embrace the practice of spiritual discipline not to grow weary in doing what is right and not to grow weary in being the Church as God has called us?  Will we choose not to be so caught up in the night of our tears that we fail to embrace joy that comes in the morning?  The good news of Jesus is that morning has broken.  Joy is here for the taking, but it requires risk.  It requires open arms, open hearts, and open minds to trust in the one who has made us and who calls us still, whom to know is life abundant.