By the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok (Revsandyb@aol.com)

Sacred texts

"For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 (Today’s English Version) "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Opening prayer

O Holy Light, shine brightly in our darkness and guide our way with wisdom. O Light Divine, teach us how to journey in Your light. Amen.

Introduction

Perhaps some of you watch television game shows. Some popular ones over the past year have been Survivor, Big Brother and the Weakest Link! While the names differ, the basic idea is always the same. There is one winner who gets everything and the others go home with nothing. And intriguing and dysfunctional alliances are formed as people plot and scheme to stay in the game at the expense of voting off other team members who are threats to the coveted prize money. Faith in those teammates is fragile and unreliable in the best of times.

Transition

But in contrast, we have journeyed by faith, and not sight, through beloved community, where everyone in this room is a winner. We have experienced the Sacred as being nearer than our breathing, closer than our hands and feet. We have learned blessing empowerment is as close as our lips, as near as our fingertips. We lingered in our centers, finding the Holy through silence and sound, stillness and movement, as our souls strolled yesterday. We learned it is safe to both laugh and cry with God.

One of my favorite faith sayings is: "when you have gone as far as all the light you know, and you are about to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen. You will step onto firm ground, or you will learn how to fly."

Central idea

This morning, let’s learn how to do both by walking in the light of God. This is our strongest link for living and dying and everything in between. And people of many faiths have experienced a very special spiritual light through Jesus Christ that offers a key to understanding God’s will and call in our lives.

God’s light is generous in all of us

Years ago, when preparing to relocate to a much different Washington, a friend in this congregation gave me a wall plaque that reads: "Some people come into our lives and quickly go, some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same."

Throughout this weekend, many of you have left footprints in my heart. Thank you for sharing this journey. Some of your steps have danced with joy while others were heavy with care. But all have strolled with the holy. And God walked with us through it all as we journeyed in the God light that we had while reaching for more. Some discovered you believe in God, but do not trust God. Then there were those among us who came to understand their faith is progressing and maturing, while others discovered their faith is superficial, or perhaps fearful, even skeptical and doubtful.

Through it all, we have learned faith and knowledge are closely intertwined with experiences and memories. When faith equips, empowers, energizes and encourages us--it is a precious faith that needs tending, care, nurturing and nourishment in our personal encounters with the Divine. And we can rest and relax, retreat and revitalize as we live in the light of God that we have.

And light is a universal symbol for faith. Whether we are Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or Jewish, Wiccan or other, spiritual light is generous in all traditions. Light is a gift that helps us connect with our Higher Power. Light is indispensable for life. The world needs light or it cannot exist or survive. Nothing could grow or live. Light is the great revealer. It guides and makes possible intelligent direction and destiny. Light permeates unhindered by space and time. It is pure and can shine through the foulest medium. In primitive religions, light has been loved and even worshipped, while darkness was feared.

And sacred words serve as brilliant flashlights, literally serving as pilgrim lamps for our feet (Psalm 119:105). There are many non-homophobic holy words that can help us get back on our feet or on our knees, when our lives are chaotic and in upheaval, when we feel overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Tell me where you live, I’ll tell you who you are

There is a saying, "tell me where you live and I’ll tell you who you are." By faith, years ago, I made a journey to a much different Washington where I now live quietly in a semi-rural area. I live in a small town about a two or three-hour journey west of Seattle. Nearby eagles fly free and whales frolic in the local waters. Another two-hour drive west brings you to mountains so beautiful that they are sometimes called the "Switzerland of America." It rains so much that we jokingly say people rust rather than tan. And some people get SAD, a seasonal affective disorder that is a fancy word for depression due to lack of sunlight. So we need to take vacations in the sun from time to time. But because we get so much rain, we have more than 200 shades of green and green is the universally recognized color of healing. We have miles of rugged, wild coastline dotted with lighthouses. It is a good place to live.

New Dungenese Light house and faith reflections

I love the rugged Washington coastline and spend many hours walking the beaches. There are a number of lighthouses for the waters can be treacherous. Over the past few years, I’ve joined a lighthouse society and am a member of a local chapter, where I have served as a lighthouse keeper with other volunteers.

The lighthouse is five miles offshore and determined hikers have a rigorous journey along the world’s longest natural sand spit. For some, it is their Holy Grail. And hikers came from near and far, journeying towards its distinctive guiding light. One woman hiker said to me, "I came here because I wanted to rediscover my passion and purpose in living."

Those who sail these mighty waters have nicknamed this area, "Cape Shipwreck." In the old days before there was a Coast Guard, when ships went down, the lighthouse keepers went out in small boats in dangerous waters to save lives often at great personal risk.

Every lighthouse has a distinctive signature light, to help navigators at sea determine if they are heading towards dangerous waters. This lighthouse light flashes every five seconds, day and night, 7 and 24. While serving as a lighthouse keeper, I noticed the flashing light became more visible and brilliant, as each night grew darker. And when foul weather blankets the area, a foghorn blasts every 2 minutes, an audible sound warning those at sea of immediate danger.

Now lighthouses need constant maintenance and teamwork. There is simply too much for one person to do alone. And I am suggesting the lighthouse is an important metaphor for the twenty-first century church. As people of faith, we are lighthouse keepers for God. We are called to walk our talk and talk our walk in beloved spiritual community, living in the light of God, while shining our God-light of faith, hope, love and blessing, 7 and 24.

The lighthouse is a universal symbol of hope and faith. We are called to be both keepers and senders of the light. We must always remember that there are many pilgrims locally and globally searching for sustaining, meaningful, life-giving, healing and loving God-light. There has been many a sailor lost at sea, brought home into safe harbor through the glimmer of a faint light in the distance.

Now the particular lighthouse that I am involved with is bordered on two sides by a wildlife refuge and sanctuary. But even in the refuge, life and death struggles occur constantly. Day and night predators hunt for daily food. Unsuspecting seals, while basking in the sunshine might suddenly become a tasty meal for a killer whale. An unfortunate fish near the water’s surface becomes lunch for a sharp-eyed eagle. Baby birds and other creatures piteously cry for help as hungry creatures raid their nests. And from time to time, poachers are a problem. Through it all, the lighthouse signature light continues to flash every five seconds, day and night, rain or shine, 7 and 24.

Rediscover your passion and purpose in living

Living in the light of God can help us rediscover our passion and purpose in living. Light is a common Old Testament metaphor for wisdom and life. From the very beginning of creation, light is mentioned many times (Genesis 1:3,6,14,15,16,17,18). Sunlight, moonlight, starlight, sunrises and sunsets, there are many kinds and variations of light. And God pronounced all the lights good.

Christ is a very special God-light in our world. He is the Amazing one who existed before Creation who spoke the world into being. He brings us a very special illuminating soul light. In Christ, there is no darkness. In his light, we can find enlightenment and spiritual direction and guidance.

The Gospel of John shines in darkness

Yes, you say, but how do I get this Light that is not overcome by evil, hatred, violence, injustice, poverty, sin, war and destruction?

Let your fingers do the walking and journey with the eyes of your heart. Linger with the gospel of John. These writings offer us a distinctive spiritual light unlike any other holy writings. The author is the beloved disciple whom Jesus loved. And he writes from the depths of his heart about the One he loved. Through these twenty-some pages, we can meet God in powerful and transforming ways through the simple practices of lectio divina and imagining ourselves in these holy stories. John’s gospel is a love letter for us to enjoy while lingering in God’s tender heartbeat. Through reading and rereading this gospel, we can find a safe place to birth our holy longings, experiencing enlightenment and renewal, rededication and focus.

If you have never read this gospel before, an internet outline and Bible study is provided for you at http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/JohnStudy.htm.

We learn how to live in meaningful, humble service to others. We are also taught how to keep the faith with our beloved spiritual guide and friend, Jesus Christ, even in the face of persecution and hatred, ridicule and rejection through a marvelous trilogy of faith in this gospel (chapters 3, 13, 15) that has inspired people of faith in good times and the bad times. Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer described this trilogy in his great spiritual classic, The Cost of Discipleship.

Reading the gospel of John offers flashes of insight and guiding light for our day to day journey in life. When our visibility and perspective is diminished due to adverse conditions, these wonderful words of life can sound out loud and clear in our hearts to guide us into safe harbor.

Light is the name of the Messiah

Jewish thought closely connected God and light. The ancient Psalmist cried, ‘the Lord is my light and salvation’ (Psalm 27:1). Based on Isaiah 60:1, ‘arise, shine; for your light is come,’ the rabbis concluded, "Light is the name of the Messiah."

Jesus spoke this audacious statement in a religiously significant location and context after two and a half years of public ministry. He had come for the specific Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,10). This Feast commemorated the journey through the wilderness of the people of Israel, when they had been guided by a pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). Jesus was standing in the Treasury; where at close of the first day of the Feast was a dramatic ceremony within that court. Four great candelabra, with four great golden bowls were prepared. When evening came, the people flocked to the court; it was crowded to capacity. When darkness came, at a given signal, the great candelabra was lit and the darkness was pierced with light that was said to illuminate every street, court and square in the city of Jerusalem. The brilliant light reminded the religious pilgrims of the light, which had guided them during their nation’s forty years of journeying in the desert. Here in this court was where Jesus claimed to be the light of the world. He could not have picked a more dramatic time or place for his announcement.

This was a majestic claim indeed, but his religious opposition (the Pharisees) didn’t believe him and felt he was boasting. His testimony, they insisted, could not be confirmed. Jesus pointed them yet again to his heavenly origin and destination. He reminded them of his intimate union with the Creator. Only six months later, Jesus would suffer the ultimate hate crime at their hands, a tortured and shameful death on a cross.

Spiritual Light in DC

Living in our nation’s capital is a marvelous experience, living where national news is daily news. The world comes to Washington, DC. It is an international, multicultural, multilingual city that is an exciting place to be. I love evenings in this great city, seeing our great monuments bathed in light. I love coming to this church, watching daylight stream into the sanctuary and during evening services, watching the brilliant light shine forth from this building. This church is a lighthouse of faith and hope with a distinctive spiritual light.

As we sit together, we can rejoice with the faith of the apostle Paul in his remarkable seven sacred words. We journey by faith, not by sight. So keep the faith. Pursue it and fight the good fight of faith. Keep looking up. Remember that Jesus is coming again-perhaps not in our lifetimes, but he will return for his people and bless us with heavenly rewards for our lives of faith. Death is not the end-but the beginning of our ultimate pilgrimage where we will be transformed in the loving presence of God, where we will live with the Lord forever and ever.

Living or dying, we can be confident before God as we place our faith in the Christ. Dear friends, this is as good as the gospel gets. So follow the light of Christ and you will find your passion and purpose in living. Through Jesus, we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Through him, we are spiritual lighthouses as we reflect our divine light source to those around us. Let your light shine brightly. Our world needs God-light.

Summary

Together we have journeyed by faith, not by sight, through beloved community and solitude. We have grown more attentive in our holy listening and experienced priceless moments of renewal. We have centered body, mind and spirit through a variety of ways of holy reading and breathing. We have celebrated the weekend with praise and singing. You are well equipped for your faith journey. Breathe, stroll, romance, soar, glide and fly with God. Blessings on your journey!