The Rock and The Hard Place
Luke 1:68-79
Advent is trying something new and seeing where it might take you.
As part of my Advent journey into the unknown this year I finally acquiesced to joining Facebook. It has been an experience! I now have 200+ friends in one week.
Advent is an opportunity to prepare for the in-breaking of God’s presence into our ordinary lives, not just Christmas. We need to prepare for it because – in reality – it is happening all the time, but it seems the only time we notice is when we find ourselves in those uncomfortably poignant moments of life that are found between the rock and the hard place.
According to Wiktionary, the phrase “being caught between a rock and a hard place” refers to the experience of being stuck between two unpleasant or distasteful options. That is certainly the case, at least lots of times.
This week saw lots of “in-between” times.
As I listened to President Obama on Tuesday night talk about the way forward in the war in Afghanistan, I was struck how America is between that rock and a hard place – lots of unpleasant and distasteful options but hopefully an end in sight.
I also learned this week that the chaplain corp. for the Minneapolis Police Department, of which I have been part for 5 years, is on the chopping block for budget cuts. Although most of the chaplains serve as volunteers, there is administrative and insurance support we receive so the chaplains have found ourselves in an eerie in-between time as we await the decisions of others which will impact our ability to serve the community.
All of us know what it is like to have rocks and hard places in our lives. Have you ever wondered why it isn’t just two rocks or two hard places? It is just one of the many thoughts that wander through my mind at midnight when I’m answering my Facebook messages. :)
I would suggest to you that the space between our rock and hard place is the in-between time of life that offers us an opportunity to experience something new – to experience the holy.
Zechariah, in our text from Luke’s gospel, had the presence of mind to recognize that he was witness to the in-breaking of God’s presence in his in-between time. The promise of birth and the mission his son would play as an important role in bringing grace to the world would come at a terrible price. Zechariah understood that this was a holy moment and his response was awe and worship. What better reaction could there be during in-between time?
In-between times offer us opportunities to experience God and grace in new ways.
In September of this year the island nation of Samoa became the first in more than 40 years to change the side of the street on which they drive. Samoans have historically driven on the right side of the street like we do here in the US, but because of their proximity to New Zealand and Australia who drive on the left side of the street, the government decided to switch driving lanes. Can you imagine 180,000 people heading out on the road that Monday morning? The Samoans were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Their history was driving one way but their trade neighbors and closest allies drove the other way. If you know anything about manufacturing of cars, you know that the side of the car that has the steering wheel is determined by the side of the street on which you drive, so there are major manufacturing and trade impacts. But the Samoans decided to use their proximity to rocks and hard places as an opportunity to be creative. Before the fateful day of the switch they had a massive road improvement plan that widened the streets (to give more people room to swerve out of the way, I suppose). They declared a two day national holiday to correspond with the first day of new driving directions to reduce traffic. And, perhaps most importantly, they banned the sale of alcohol for three days prior to the change. The Samoans are no dummies!
Then, to show how really serious this in-between time was, they got the churches involved. You know you’re in trouble when the government calls on the church for help! The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa was asked to pray for the nation and offer blessings for those who would be driving the next morning. When Monday morning arrived for the switch, people lined the roadways to see what would happen. At 6AM the Police Minister went on national radio and told all drivers to pull over to the side of the road and stop. A few minutes later he gave everyone instructions about how to switch sides of the road to begin driving again. Cheering crowds of people lined the streets and offered applause for those brave few (that’s Samoan for idiots) who decided they had to be behind a wheel that morning. The miracle of that day – not one accident was reported!
The people of Samoa got through their awkward in-between time and learned a new way of being a society together. I’m sure the Samoans wished they could just instantly switch to their new driving patterns and everything would be fine. But life doesn’t work that way. Sometimes allowing ourselves to linger in the in-between time, between the rock and the hard place, gives us perspective. I would say it is the best way to find true peace.
Right now the rest of the world is rushing headlong toward Christmas. The malls have been there since October. But followers of Jesus know that the best destinations are reached with patience, care and deliberation and so we light a candle a week on our Advent wreath and remind ourselves that this is our in-between time. It won’t be for ever – Christmas will come – but it is an important part of our spiritual discipline and development to linger and reflect on our in-between time.
The way of peace is not simply the absence of conflict. Rather, the way of peace is a “centered-ness” that one finds within one’s spirit that is not toppled even during times of difficulty. Zechariah was able to find that center within himself and as a result the magnitude of the changes happening around him were a reason to celebrate, not worry. He offered a prayer of thanksgiving and faith. It is a good example to follow the next time you find yourself between a rock and a hard place.
Sources:
www.homileticsonline.com The Human Factor, December 2009.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/between_a_rock_and_a_hard_place
Merrill, Timothy: www.homileticsonline.com The Back Page, January-February 2010.
http://www.europe-map.org/oceania/maps/samoa.gif
