January 10, 2010

“Overcoming Obstacles” – Isaiah 43:1-7 – January 10, 2010

In this passage Isaiah was speaking to people who were in need of deep comfort. Their nation had been dismantled and they were scattered. They were no longer a community and they were afraid for their lives. They were overwhelmed by their loss and their future seemed hopeless. They had also become alienated from the presence of God. Temple practices, religious practices and rules had become their priority rather than a living, caring and forgiving God who loved them. Isaiah reminded them that when they passed through the raging waters and walked through the scorching heat of the desert, God was with them, watching over them. God created them and God would put reassemble their nation and give them rebirth.

When we live with a sense of hopelessness and our lives are surrounded by obstacles we become filled with despair. Like the Israelites we look to “religion” to sustain us instead of trusting and depending on God’s presence in our midst. We too need to be reminded that God is with us, because God cares for us. As Isaiah said, “God created us, redeemed us and called us by name…Do not fear, for I am with you.”

Valmeyer, Illinois is a small town of German immigrants. It is a town of about 900 people who have been ravaged by the flood waters of the Mississippi for years. The Army Corps of Engineers constructed a levee system to protect the village and surrounding area. This levee system successfully protected the area from flooding for almost 50 years. But, the great flood of 1993 totally inundated Valmeyer. The people lost everything: their homes, their work places, and their entire town.

After the flood receded, the village accepted federal government assistance to relocate to higher ground about 2 miles to the east on higher ground. The new town, now known as New Valmeyer, is 400 feet higher, located on top of the bluffs of Old Valmeyer. The town of Valmeyer received thirty-five million dollars of government money, to help pay for the school, streets, sewer systems, and many other buildings and important things a town needs, including the community center, which is used for the fire and police department. Not everybody left their homes, however, a few decided to stay and rebuild or fix their homes while others decided to just move out of Valmeyer, all together. The school was rebuilt right in the middle of town, the most important thing to the residents of Valmeyer. They wanted the kids to feel like they were home again, and when it was all said and done, they could really tell the difference in the lives of their children.

The congregation of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Valmeyer saw all of its buildings destroyed in the Great Flood too. However, they continued to function as the church, without buildings, for three years. During that time, they helped relocate and rebuild their small town, and finally entered their beautiful new church buildings in l996. Although it took government funds to finance the reconstruction, God’s people were very much involved in the process.

Can you imagine relocating your entire community? Can you imagine losing everything, your home, your workplace, your church, your school and all of your favorite places and personal belongings?
It is difficult to imagine that magnitude of loss. However, most everyone is facing some obstacle which seems impossible to overcome. People are afraid. There are obstacles of depression or disillusionment. There are rivers of disease, aging and the fear of being alone. There are conflicts in relationships and feelings of insecurity. Life in our time can also be like the desert, void of the necessary resources to survive. Or, like raging rivers that are uncontrollable.

The people of Valmeyer had to overcome overwhelming conditions in order to start over. But with the help of government, faith and courage, the community of Valmeyer, who had lost everything, was reborn. For that to occur, I believe that they had to listen to a prophetic voice, a voice much like Isaiah’s, in order to have hope. They had to depend on outside help. They had to take some risks. They had to do some letting go. It must have been scary for them but they listened to the voice of assurance and hope, the one voice they could trust.

Like the Israelites, one voice we need to listen to is the voice of history. When Isaiah spoke he reminded the people of Israel of those times in the past when they faced tremendous obstacles. How they managed to cross the Red Sea, and survive the wilderness.

In our society we too can look back at the pilgrims and pioneers who came before us. Just recently, there was a reenactment of George Washington crossing the Delaware. During the night of December 25th, Washington led his troops across the ice-swollen Delaware about 9 miles north of Trenton. The weather was horrendous and the river treacherous. Raging winds combined with snow, sleet and rain to produce almost impossible conditions. To add to the difficulties, a significant number of Washington's force marched through the snow without shoes. The next morning they attacked to the south, taking the Hessian garrison by surprise and over-running the town. After fierce fighting, and the loss of their commander, the Hessians surrendered. The event became one of the major turning points of the Revolution.

Isaiah’s voice is also a realistic voice. He is saying that life is full of uncertainties. There have been obstacles and overwhelming situations in the past and there will be obstacles in the future. Isaiah did not promise his people a life that would be without difficulties and heartache. What he did promise was that when they did face obstacles, God would be with them. And God is with us. God gives us hope to move forward. God is listening to our cry for help. God is aware of each hurdle we face.

The community of Valmeyer had a system of levies that protected them for years. But, the great flood of 1993 was beyond their control. Sometimes there are circumstances or external conditions that we simply cannot change. It is extremely cold this winter in Ohio and we are powerless to change it. However we can change our internal lives, what we believe and how we will respond to the present. We can live in fear, or we can live in hope. Perhaps the following story of “Two Wolves,” can help.
“One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’ The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’"

Which wolf will you feed?

Isaiah also said in the following verses that the people needed to respond to his message. He said, “You are my witnesses.” In other words his words fall on deaf ears unless the people change. His voice is a call to change.

A change in spirit requires a change of attitude, a change of perception and a change of heart. That happens when we “feed” our spiritual lives with positive thoughts, a strong faith and trust in the Creator. Although the people of Valmeyer had to relocate their town that doesn’t mean we always have to physically relocate to have hope. We can change our spiritual lives by trusting in God, tuning in to the prophetic voices of our day and loving our neighbors. The people of Valmeyer sacrificed their community to help save St. Louis from a major flood event. And, the government, meaning “we the people” provided the resources to rebuild the town and its inhabitants of Valmeyer.

Jesus said, “Pray for those who persecute you and love your enemies.” Like Isaiah he was calling his disciples to be people who build up the kingdom of God. One resolution we can all make in this new year is to pray for those who hurt us and pray for those who don’t do what we want them to do. God is also in charge of others and God is aware of those who are standing in our way or unwilling to listen.
We can overcome the obstacles of life when we listen to the prophetic voices in our midst. We can cross over the rivers of despair when we look to our journeys of the past. And, we can successfully cross the deserts of doom by being God’s children who live with faith, hope and love.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio

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