11/14/04

The Secret of Endurance

Malachi 4:1-6
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Luke 21:5-19

Let me begin this morning with a sports story, not the first sports reference you've heard from me this Fall. Bob Zuppke, who was once the football coach at Illinois, was a master of the half-time pep talk. In one particular away game, the fighting Illini were woefully behind at the half. As the team dejectedly came into the visitor's locker room, Zuppke proceeded to give a dramatic, impassioned speech to enliven his dispirited, lack-luster squad. (When I preached this sermon a few years ago, I commented that such a talk from the coach was something the Patriots could use. Not any more, right?) Anyhow, as he neared the end of his speech, the coach's voice became louder, his pleas more dramatic. He pointed at the door at the other end of the locker room and said, "Now let's go through that door and on to victory!" The team rose as one man, tears welling in their eyes, throats choked with emotion, hearts pounding in anticipation, and they ran through the door... right into the university swimming pool! Good advice, but wrong direction! i

The Bible is full of good advice, and it's also a book of directions, which we generally think of as the right directions. The Bible is called by some of us the guide-map for our journey of life. In our three scripture lessons for today we get a good dose of advice and some examples of right directions. All three come at or near the end of their respective books, making them sound, in a way, like the last-minute advice parents give to their children as they're going out the door.

The passage from Malachi, the last chapter of the last book of the Hebrew portion of scriptures, says that the day is coming when things are going to get tough - especially for those who haven't obeyed the Lord. His advice is very clear. Obey God, and obey the law and the teachings of Moses and the prophets. Paul chides the Thessalonians to not be lazy, to do their fair share and not become tired of doing what is right - because such good work is what the Christian life is all about. Jesus' advice to his disciples is harder to understand. He predicts the destruction of the temple, comments on the troubles and persecutions his followers may have to suffer, but concludes with some words of hope about not a single hair of one's head being lost, if only we will stand firm, and endure whatever comes. Let's look closer at this endurance he's talking about.

It's all well and good to talk about endurance in the face of trials and tribulations - in the abstract - but how is such endurance possible in real life for us mere mortals when we're under heavy loads? How can we endure overwhelming pressures at school or work? How can we endure tragic personal crises? How can we endure bitter disappointment, or the heartbreaking betrayal of a loved one, or the devastating news of an incurable disease or a horrible accident? How can we endure the shock of losing someone close to us? How can we endure the uncertainty of our times: potential terrorism, a war consuming more and more lives, the threat of drugs destroying our children, the threat of AIDS, cancer or other terrible illnesses? Why is it that some folks fall apart in the face of such pressures and end up in mental institutions, or commit suicide, or turn to drinking or drugs to ease their troubles, or withdraw into a shell, or turn tail and run, or literally close their eyes to the tragedy around them? Why is it that some folks deal with adversity in these ways, while others hang in there, stand firm, and endure in spite of great obstacles? What's the secret of endurance?

The secret of endurance has two parts - or maybe there are two secrets - one having something to do with us, and the other having to do with something beyond us. The first secret that we directly control is also known as persistence or perseverance, close cousins of endurance. This first secret of endurance is indeed to intentionally just hang in there, to stand firm when all around us the earth is trembling, to not give up - either on oneself or on one's situation. History is full of examples of people who overcame adversity by persevering, by enduring and conquering what might have conquered them: Beethoven, whose best works were composed after he lost his hearing; Louis Pasteur, whose greatest discoveries were made after he'd suffered a life-threatening stroke; John Milton, whose best poetry came after he was blind. ii And many more.

A hobo knocks on the door of an English inn called "George And The Dragon." A woman opens the door, and the hobo asks, "Could I have a bite to eat?" The woman goes ballistic, screaming and cursing him, and finally slams the door in his face. Bravely, he knocks again, the woman opens the door, and he timidly asks, "Now could I have a few words with George?" iii That's persistence! More seriously, Harriet Beecher Stowe noted that "when you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." iv The first secret of endurance is to persevere, to hang in there - for the tide will turn.

The other secret of endurance is the part that has to do with something beyond us. When Jesus was giving good advice and good direction to his disciples, they probably felt encouraged. In spite of severe trials, their endurance would see them through. But look what happens soon after this - their capacity to endure is hardly impressive. In Jesus' final trial, all his friends forsake him and head for the hills. One even blatantly betrays him. Peter denies that he knows him - three times! These are failures in endurance - good advice given, but wrong directions taken.

But if we continue the story a bit further, we discover something else. With the exception of Judas, who packs it in because of his overwhelming feelings of guilt, every one of the other disciples goes on to do great things, and goes on to endure great suffering, great hardship, even death. What made them different in this later time? They learned to look beyond themselves and to God for the strength to endure. They learned to rely on the presence of the risen Christ in their midst, on the one who indeed sustained and strengthened them. The previous failure of the disciples tells us that on our own we can't make it. We'll self-destruct sooner or later. But the ultimate endurance of these same disciples is testimony to a better way.

In the first part of the past century, Sir Ernest Shackleton began his voyage to the Antarctic. It was his dream to cross the 2100 miles of wasteland by dogsled. But he didn't make it that far. On the way, his ship was stopped by an ice pack and sank. He and his men had to trudge over drifting ice-floes trying to reach the nearest land, nearly 200 miles away, and the nearest human outpost nearly 1200 miles away. They towed behind them a life boat weighing nearly one ton. When they finally reached waters clear enough of ice to navigate, they faced waves as high as 90 feet. Finally, they reached South Georgia Island, only to find they'd come to the wrong side. They then had to cross a 10,000 foot mountain range that had never been crossed before. When they finally reached their destination almost seven months after they began their journey, they were so bedraggled, their friends did not recognize them. However, every one of those who completed the journey reported that they felt the presence of God guiding them on their perilous trek. They knew they were not alone. v

The psychologist Karl Jung once said: "The individual who is not anchored in God cannot offer resistance on his [or her] own resources to the physical and moral blandishments of the world." vi We need an anchoring in God, a connection, a saving rope to pull us through. In Christ, we are given the forgiving, renewing love that connects us with God, a life-saving rope, a firm anchor - that helps us become steadfast and to endure whatever. If the disciples hadn't made this discovery, we can be sure their lives would have ended in despair, and the Christian church would not have been born. vii

Another word from Paul to the Thessalonians. We are given the life that you and I have, whether it is filled with tragedy and adversity or not, we are given this life for a purpose. Life may at times seem very unfair, and at times it is unfair. At times we may be discouraged, disillusioned, burned out, or fed up. But as Paul says, "brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right," that is, don't become tired of doing good. This is what we're put on this earth for, to make it a better place.

I'm not sure who the author of this little gem of wisdom is, but I pass it along in the hope that it will speak to you as it has to me: "If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for some underdogs anyway." viii Do good anyway. This is why we've been created, and why God has given us the strength to endure. "By your endurance you will gain your souls," says Jesus.

The dual secrets of endurance are persistence - hanging in there, not giving up; and, a deep faith in a God who will never give up on us, a God who will walk with us through all that we must endure, a recognition that if we will only believe, God's saving power will rise on us like the sun, and bring healing and wholeness like the sun's rays - in this life now and in the life even beyond this one. We don't have to walk this journey of life alone - indeed, whether we know it or admit it or not, we are never alone. Our God is with us always. So, hang in there - and keep the faith. Amen.

The Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
Rev. Kenneth C. Landall

i Pulpit Resource, 11/16/86.
ii Autoillustrator #90.
iii Ibid., #2532.
iv Ibid., #2765.
v Ibid., #2524.
vi The Clergy Journal 5-6/86, p. 17.
vii Ibid.
viii Autoillustrator, #2009.