GOD’S SOMETIMES STRANGE GEOGRAPHY
Rev. Dr. Dennis Winkleblack
Prospect United Methodist Church
Bristol, Connecticut
September 13, 2009
James 2: 14-17
Mark 7: 24-37
Because pastors talk so much in public, it’s perhaps not surprising that we so frequently put a foot into our mouths. Personally, I could write a book about my gaffes, but I’d be too embarrassed for anyone to read it.
One would hope that Jesus didn’t make such errors. But on at least one occasion, he was quoted as saying something which I think we’d agree would have seriously offended most people. Traveling through Tyre, out among the Gentiles, he’s confronted by a woman who’s heard of him and who asks him to heal her daughter. And what Jesus says to her, believe me, I’ve never said to anyone. Jesus said, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to little dogs.” Jesus is calling the woman and her kin, “little dogs.”
Now, to this point, Jesus’ ministry had been spent entirely among the Jewish people. The woman, therefore, being of Greek origin, obviously didn’t qualify. “Woman, what I have to give isn’t to be given to non-Jews.”
The woman, however, was persistent. And wouldn’t you be if you realized a cure for your child’s illness was within arms’ reach. “What you say about dogs is true,” this nervy mother replies, “But even dogs are allowed to clean up the children’s crumbs.”
“Touché,” says Jesus. He is clearly moved by something about this woman. And so he said, “For putting it like that (meaning for the faith you’re showing) – you may go: your little girl is well.” And it was so.
This, you will note, is the first healing of a Gentile by Jesus. The story thus stands as a transition from Jesus’ ministry being a renewal movement within Judaism to God’s reaching out to invite all people to become chosen people -- for privilege and for responsibility.
But also note what follows this epochal event: another healing story, this of a man who couldn’t hear or speak. What’s so unusual about this, you ask?
Well, biblical scholars are puzzled. Not by the doing of the two miracles. But by their geography. At the close of chapter 6 Jesus is in the area of the Sea of Galilee. Then, at the beginning of the passage read today, only some 27 verses later, Jesus leaves the Sea of Galilee region for some apparently much needed R and R. So where does he go? To the sparsely populated boon docks of Galilee, the region of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast in what is now Lebanon.
Then, however, at verse 31, the Gospel writer Mark says Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee.
Now, to get the full import of all this you have to look at the little maps in the backs of your Bibles. And there you’ll see why the scholars are a little mystified. Going to the Sea of Galilee from Tyre by way of Sidon is like going from Bristol to Boston by way of Albany, NY. Ridiculous enough in our time, but remember Jesus traveled on foot.
Many explanations for this odd itinerary have been offered. For one, the Gospel writer Mark may not have cared all that much about geography. That is, writing many years after Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, Mark may have known the stories, but wasn’t sure about the traveling details. After all, remember it wasn’t until after Jesus rose from the dead that people began trying to remember all he said and did. And then it was a good while before it got written down.
In any case, it wouldn’t be surprising that Mark didn’t know northern Palestinian geography well. Tyre, Sidon: Bristol, Albany. If you’re in Boston they’re all some place west and south. It was before the time of Rand McNally or Mapquest or Garmin.
Of course, the other possibility is that we are underestimating both Jesus and Mark. Maybe Jesus did go by way of Sidon and for a good reason. And maybe Mark took the oddness of it all to intentionally make a sub-point about Jesus he wanted no one to ever forget: That is: When you follow Jesus, be ready for surprises, unexpected circumstances, for people you didn’t expect to meet and life changes you never counted on.
Jesus got to the Sea of Galilee by going way north, way out of his way. But, however unusual was his choice of routes, at least a man who couldn’t hear or speak was quite thankful he chose to ignore the advice of Mapquest.
Strange geography, indeed. But God’s geography is often very strange, isn’t it? I mean, isn’t there some strange geography in your story?
It’s certainly part and parcel of my story. I’ve never ended up geographically or spiritually where I thought I was going. Never. Yet always I’ve been I’ve been able to look back and say, “Thank you, God.”
It began for me with a major in journalism at the University of Missouri, and proceeded to a degree in liberal arts at tiny William Jewell College. After college, I went to a Baptist seminary in Missouri seeking a degree in Religious Education, but ended up graduating from a Methodist seminary in North Carolina as an ordained minister.
After seminary, I had my pick of five churches in Missouri of which to be pastor, but a month before I was to begin, things happened and I ended up as an associate pastor in Connecticut, downstate in Fairfield.
Jeanne and I thought we’d adopt a little African-American girl to make her life better, but were surprised to end up totally transformed ourselves by the experience.
I was then certain I should be a hospital chaplain so I went to Toronto General Hospital in Canada to train with my mentor from Duke. But it was too much death and dying and not enough church picnics so we returned to Connecticut. But, looking back, that one year in Canada totally changed my self-understanding and my way of caring for people.
Fast forwarding, my sojourn of seven years as a district superintendent, getting a doctor of ministry degree in San Francisco were events hardly planned in advance.
I was glad enough to leave the superintendency – it was exhausting. But looking back, those seven years may have been the most significant and fulfilling of my ministry.
After leaving the Cabinet in 2004, I was asked to go to Jesse Lee church in Easton. I fully anticipated ending my days as a pastor in the midst of loving people going a lot slower than I had been. But it was not to be. Some six months into my pastorate, Bishop Park called and asked me to be his part time assistant while being Jesse Lee’s pastor part-time.
A year later, we moved again as Bishop Park asked me to continue the 2-job approach and become the pastor of First Church, Norwalk, a church begun in 1789. There, I was not to guide them in birth and growth, but to guide them in the death of the congregation.
Then in June, 2008, I was appointed to be your part-time pastor. Our chapter together is not yet finished. But, to say the least and in line with God’s sometimes strange geography to date, I didn’t see this one coming at all either.
Does God have God’s hand in all this, including my being with you? If history is any guide to the future, I must believe so.
In any case, to put it all in the context of today’s scripture and to take me out of the picture except as an example, God’s sometimes strange geography means there may well be twists and turns that send us reeling, but, just as we have in the past, we’ll always discover that underneath all the uncertainties in our lives are the everlasting, tender, guiding arms of God.
We may not know why God sends us north to go east, may not know why certain doors close and others open. May not know what God can possibly bring out of a huge disappointment or loss. But in the end, if we’ve been faithful and trusting, there is the assurance – certainly proved true in my life – that we’ll be able to look back and say, “thank you God.”
Many people are tempted to say that everything happens for a reason. I don’t believe that. You have to read scripture with squinty eyes and clouded minds to come away with that. Many things happen that make God cry. Many things happen that God doesn’t want to happen at all.
Indeed, all the events that have transpired to get me where I am; to get you where you are have not been dictated. Indeed, both you and I have made many mistakes in trying to follow where Christ has wanted us to go. And many other things have come to pass that neither Christ nor we wanted. But Christ has been faithful. And Christ has been persistent.
And with the eyes of faith, looking back, it’s goose bump time to see how this wonder-working Christ does put frayed ends together, does give direction to seeming chaos, does put odd people, strange circumstances together and make of them a life – a tapestry of great, unique beauty.
Fredrick Buechner has written, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”
All moments are key moments and life itself is grace.
Even this moment. Even my life. Even your life, however you and I have gotten here this morning, by whatever number of detours.
No matter where you and I may go from here; no matter where you might wind up from here, no matter where I might wind up from here: the scriptures, our faith, our experience testify to the reality that the Lord himself is with us, and leads us, nudges us, teases us, lures us, shoves us, cajoles us, rescues us, guides us on our way.
Even if we don’t have a map. Maybe especially if we don’t have a map.