“These Bones Live”
by Bruce J. Johnson
March 17, 2002
On Wednesday afternoon, I was one of the ‘breakout session’ presenters at the Third Annual Conference on Aging for the Eastern Region of the Department of Mental Retardation. I was asked to present a seminar on “Spirituality, Religion and Aging.” As anticipated, it turned out to be a lot of fun. Why they asked me, I’ll never really know but the word on the street was that they had heard about our “Seekers Bible Study” and wanted to know what the seekers had taught me about aging! I told them, “Plenty--- all the stuff they forgot to teach me in seminary!”
Well, the Reverend Robert Raines, a United Church of Christ minister and the former director of the Kirkridge Retreat Center in Stroudsburg, Pa. was the keynote speaker. The title for his address was the “Spiritual Imperatives for Creative Aging” You might recall that when the Connecticut Conference acknowledged the 25th Anniversary of my ordination a few years ago, they gave me a gift. It was a copy of Robert Raines’ book,
A Time to Live: the seven tasks of creative aging. What a message to send at that time in my ministry!
His address was terrific but familiar because I had read his book. One of the wonderful stories he told was about Harry, a man who had participated in one of his retreats at Kirkridge. One of the exercises, Raines had the group do involved imagining how many years you had left to live considering your age, health and the history of your parental longevity. Raines had each person write out all the things that he/she wanted to do and be over the next 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, even 40 years!
Harry approached Rev. Raines to share how difficult it was for him to imagine how many more years he had left to live. This was the ensuing dialogue.
Harry: “I’m 65 years old, still working every day and remain active is every possible way.
Rev. Raines: “That’s terrific, congratulations. How old was your father when he died?”
Harry: Did I say anything about my father being dead? He is still very much alive. He is 85. He still comes to the office every day and exercises his influence on the family business. He plays golf a couple of time a week, a little bit of tennis, too. Even serves on a youth advisory board in town and he and my mother love to travel.
Rev. Raines: “Wonderful! See you have great genes. Well, then, how old was your grandfather when he died?”
Harry: “Did I say anything about my grandfather being dead? Gamps is 104. He’s healthy and still lives independently. Doesn’t drive anymore but remains active. And a matter of fact, he got married last month!
Rev. Raines: “Wow! What genes!” But, can I ask you something? Why would grandfather want to get married at his age?
Harry: “Did I say that he wanted to get married?”
(A MAN’S WILDEST FANTASY!)
(story told by the Reverend Robert Raines, 3/13/02)
Of course, the whole focus of the conference was to emphasize the need for finding ways to stay alive as we grow older—to feel vital and vigorous, to live a life that is meaningful, involved and productive.
I remember the somewhat prayerful line penned by Jonathan Swift, the author of Gulliver’s Travels:
“May you live all the days of your life.”
WE ALL KNOW WHAT HE MEANT DON’T WE?
Today, as we continue our Lenten journey to Jerusalem and Christ’s passion and his death, there is, I think, a rising sense urgency over getting it right and being ready, on knowing how to stay alive and be faithful as darkness falls and the disciples fail and things turn ugly… when truth gets nailed to a Cross and hopes and dreams get shattered and followers scatter.
Perhaps the most classic of all stories is told by the great German existential philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche:
“He writes of a madman who charges into the marketplace of a medieval town, leaps onto the steps of the cathedral, then cries out to the crowd, ‘I want a requiem mass!’
“WHO HAS DIED?’ THE PEOPLE ASK.
“GOD IS DEAD!” THE MADMAN ANSWERS.
And when the crowd mocks his seemingly absurd announcement of the death of God, the madman retorts, ‘ If God is not dead, then why have the churches become mortuaries?’
(Carpe Diem, Campolo, p.29.)
Its good to be alive all of our days but sometimes it may not feel that way and certainly there is much in life that threatens to drain the life right out of us!
Today’s passage from Ezekiel is one of the great ones and for preachers, really intimidating! (I know the scripture has God telling Ezekiel to prophesy but we preacher translate it as “preach.”)
Ezekiel, both priest and prophet, lived during the Exile. Taken with others to Babylon in 597 BCE, Ezekiel and the exiled community experienced from there the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BCE, the destruction of the Temple and the disintegration of the nation. They were a displaced and despondent people. Without a land or a Temple, they felt cut off and dead: “Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost” summarizes their despair. (v. 11)
It is to these hopeless people that Ezekiel prophesies the vision described in our passage for today. The Spirit brings him to this valley of dry bones and he is asked by God whether these dry bones can live. The logical answer to God’s question is ‘no.’ But Ezekiel, knowing the creative power of God, tempers his answer and responds: “only you know, O God.”
And the rest is Scripture! Ezekiel preached; the Spirit breathed new life, and these bones --- these dry and lifeless bones lived--- again!
Man--- to be able to preach like that!
Tony Campolo’s best known sermon is titled “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Comin'!” In his book, Let Me Tell You a Story he shares how that sermon came about. He tells the story about being invited to preach in his own church in Philadelphia where the congregation is predominantly African American and always lets you know whether you’re dying and killing them in the process or you’re on and they’re alive! On this particular Good Friday, he thought that he was at his very best. When he sat down next to his pastor, he kinda boasted playfully—“top that!” Well, the elder pastor got up and for the next hour and half turned that congregation on its ear!
He started out softly, “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Comin’!”
It’ Friday; its Friday and my Jesus is nail to a tree. But that was Friday and Sunday’s comin'!”
One the deacons yelled back—“Preach, brother preach” and that was all he needed.
He came on louder: It was Friday and Mary was crying her eyes out. The disciples were runnin’ in every direction, like sheep with out s shepherd… but that was Friday and Sunday’s comin’!
He upped the volume: It was Friday. The cynics were lookin’ at the world and saying, ‘As things have been so shall they always be.” You can’t change anything, you can’t change anything. But those cynics didn’t know that it was only Friday and Sunday’s comin’!
It was Friday and on Friday those forces that oppress the poor and make the poor to suffer were in control… But that was Friday! Sunday’s comin’.
It was Friday and Friday, Pilate washed his hands of a lot of trouble, The Pharisees were struttin’ around, laughin’ and pokin’ each other in the ribs. They thought that were back in charge of things but they didn’t know that it was only Friday! and Sunday’s comin’!
He worked that phrase over and over again to the point where, at the end of his message, everyone was so worked up! (Campolo confesses even today to exhaustion)… where upon—when he said his last line:
“TODAY IS FRIDAY” ------all 500 voices yelled back with one accord, ‘But SUNDAY’S COMIN! (p. 213)
Now that’s preaching and that’s also the Good News: the creative power of the Spirit of God puts flesh on bones and music into souls. It breathes life into nostrils and love into hearts and makes dead people rise. It is that same Spirit that puts people in the pews, gives us hope when we rattle around in despair, gives joy when can lie about in our sorrow and raises us up, unbound and set free when we have once felt dead…. SURE--- WE HAVE OUR FRIDAYS BUT SUNDAY’S COMIN AND THESE OL’BONES WILL LIVE! Praise be to God!
AMEN