Back and Forth

Making the trip home for the Christmas season is always full of exciting and eye opening experiences. We get to reconnect with family, learn new gossip, and take in the sights around the upstate area of South Carolina. One afternoon, we were looking for something to do to break the monotonous cycle of sleep, eat, nap, eat, and sleep. We hopped in the van and took off. We were officially galavanting. Tromping is something that is accomplished on foot, whereas galavanting is done by motor vehicle. We took off to the great metropolis of Greer, S.C. Many changes had taken place, all were providing sensory overload to my eyes. We all grow accustomed to things looking the same along the roads of our lives. During youth, it seems that these changes will never come. Now, as middle age is starred on the calendar...it is much easier to see and understand change...progress...and nostalgia.

We road past a new, high tech, twenty pump service station. Twenty five years ago, when I first learned to drive, I would drive up to this spot. Then, it had two pumps, and I was greeted by a large, Hitchcockesque man. His name was Mr. Coggins, and his jowls went on for days. I knew him because he was the home plate umpire in our church league games at Victor and Gibson ball fields. He would respond to my driving over the bell activated hose, and ask, "Fill 'er up?" While he was "fillenerup", I would pop the hood and he would look underneath. Checking the vitals of my 1985 Grand Prix. "Oil is a little low, son...I will put in a quart. Needs a little fluid too." Somehow, he was always able to time all this just right with the clicking off of the pump, and I always got a free window wash and squeegee too. Mr. Coggins is long gone now, and so is this personal service from another place in time.

We drove to my old elementary school in Holly Springs. Looking at the kindergarten playground, I was moved by how small it really was. Many yesterdays ago, it was massive and held the famous activities of sliding, swinging and the ever-popular kiss chase. The back fence was home for honeysuckles meant for suckling, even at the warnings of them being sprayed with pesticide. I guess it was OK that we were disobedient. I do not see that there were any long term effects from honeysuckle pesticide exposure.

We looked at the old area that was the exercise spot. There were different sized and colored tractor tires, buried halfway in the ground. These were great for climbing in, through, and over. Mr. Winters, our P.E. teacher, told us that he planted some magic rubber beans, and these tires sprouted up one night. I guess that many years later, the school district planted some school addition beans...as now the tires are covered with more school.

Families have changed too, as the elders are getting more elderly, the kids now have kids of their own and see the pure pleasure on the faces of the grandparents. Pleasure based on being proud, and on the fact that their kids now know what it is like to have and love and be frustrated and flooded with joy with their own children.

We drove to a nursing home to visit an elderly aunt, who is dying slowly, but still can smile. I told an old story that gave her the chance to recall times gone by. As I fed her a peanut butter cup, a tear slowly passed down her cheek. I am unsure if it was the sweetness of the treat, or the treat of the sweet memory of days long ago.

Changes...all around. But yet, there are some constants too. We ate, slept, played games, had fun, argued a little. We were annoyed by some things and inspired by others. We realized that we had something special with our families, and even realized that the aggravating things are also the same things that make each moment special. One day, perhaps I will be the elderly one, recalling a memory of the Christmas of 2006, and I will sigh deeply, and shed a tear.

What does this have to do with a sermon?At the close of this year, we look back. Some of us are filled with regret, anger, and pain. We cannot wait for the New year to roll around and give us a clean slate. Others are filled with joy and thanksgiving for the year that is to come, but have no idea, that this next year will be so very difficult and painful. Perhaps for some of us, this next year will usher in the end of our earthly life. The headstone above our grave will read...died 2007.

In this time of buying new calendars, getting new day planners, and trying to remember how to write the correct year on our checks and legal documents it is good that we can focus on that which is not changing. On this last Sabbath of 2006, I want to leave you with a verse to hold on to. This verse is one that hopefully will be carried throughout 2007, as well. Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus is the same, yesterday...today...and forever. I need to know this...and I feel that you need it too.

Jesus, the healer, can still heal. Jesus, the redeemer, can still redeem. Jesus, the interceder, can still intercede. Jesus, the friend, is still friendly. Jesus, the forgiver, still forgives. Jesus, the restorer, still restores. Jesus, the author of our faith, is still writing. Jesus, the Lord, is still Lord. Jesus, the King, still reigns.

Gas station...Gone. Tires on the playground...Gone. The vitality of youth...Gone. Oh...but Beloved of God, be of Good cheer...Jesus is the SAME. He is still here, and longs to have fellowship with you. He longs to give you peace, a new start, a clean slate, a new calendar...a new life. I need that...what about you?

Afterward, a gentleman approached me. He said that he had his thumb sticking in his bible during the prayers, announcements, and songs. During the sermon, he opened the bible, just where his thumb had been. He looked down and saw these words,"Jesus is the same, Yesterday...Today...and Forever." Hmm...perhaps we are on to something?