The Madness of Humanity

I knew a man who took no risks. He lived by this philosophy, "The devil that you know is better than the devil that you don't know." In this way, he stayed put with things as they are. When he was offered a new job, he refused to take it, even though he did not like his current job at all, but the new job might be worse, he'd think. He lived in a big old home that cost him a great deal to keep up but when we suggested he downsize, he claimed that something worse was sure to happen to the new home. This was Samuel the prophet's tendency as well, to stick with what he knew. Samuel did not like change. But Samuel was also a prophet and when the rubber hit the road, he did what God asked.

At first, Samuel did not want to anoint a King. God was supposed to be King of Israel and when the people asked for a human king, Samuel the prophet was disappointed. He hated the idea and the subsequent change that would ensue. He refused until God reminded him who was in charge. After some discussion with God, Samuel annointed Saul.

Saul was like a movie star. He stood a head taller than everyone else. He was so handsome, there was no one who could hold a candle to him. He was one tough, super-hero type guy. So he was the best and most obvious choice for king of Israel. He was everyone's first choice.

Saul ruled for a number of years before he began to crack. Maybe it was his handsomeness that led to him thinking too much of himself. Maybe he became used to getting his own way, to being honored, revered. Whatever happened, Saul began to do what he wanted instead of what God wanted and from that moment on, he was doomed.

God abandoned Saul and told Samuel that it was time to anoint another king. Samuel did not like the idea. Well, technically, Saul was still on the throne. And Samuel did not like change. He was used to Saul, faults and all. Samuel grumbled, but finally agreed to listen to God's instructions and go to Jesse's house to anoint a king.

Samuel travels to the home of Jesse. There is this great scene where Samuel watches as the sons of Jesse are paraded in front of him in the order of their birth. They are so tall! They are so handsome! This must be the future king! Samuel thinks. Or him! Or him! But God does not want Samuel to anoint any of them. None. Samuel begins to feel crazy. Did he come to the right house? Did he get the message straight? He sits there, dumbfounded. And then he asks the most important question of his life.

"Are these all of your sons?" he asks.

And finally, the little boy who tended the sheep is brought forward. And Samuel anoints him.

David will become an even greater king than Saul but he just did not look like the rest. He was so different.

Human beings are a bit mad. We live in a state of delusion. Christians call it sin. Hindus call it maya, or delusion. All of the great religions of the world agree on this point, that humans are a bit crazy. We have the capacity to do wonderful things but also the capacity to live our lives in a state of madness. This madness stems from our belief that things must stay the same. We make maps for ourselves, maps of how our lives ought to progress. From an early age, we draw up these maps based on the expectations of our parents or friends, pictures that we create in our minds of what success should look like. We then spend our lives listening to these maps, trying to follow them instead of listening to God.

I need to get married. I need to have kids. The kids should behave and do well in school. There should be harmony. Whatever our maps are, we keep looking at them and trying to force our lives to look like them. We stop listening, meanwhile God is parading the king in front of our eyes, but he doesn't look like what we expected so we pass him by.

King David has become the quintessential king for all Jews all over the world. Ironically, the young boy who was almost passed by has now become the new ideal. The Messiah was supposed to look like David, which was why so many people refused to recognize Jesus, because he did not act or look like what they expected. But everybody forgets that, at the beginning, no one thought David seemed kingly at all.

Jesus said that God' kingdom is like a mustard seed. It surprises you. What seems insignificant can make a huge impact in the world while the most impressive things just fade away. In other words, God's plans are so surprising but they are so much better than our crazy old maps.

Look at Lady Julian of the 14th century. She lived alone in a room. She wrote about God in such a way that most people thought she was mad. She called God he and she. She told us that everything would be OK in a time when plagues coursed through Europe killings thousands and God was seen as scary and unpredictable. Her writings were lost only to be found centuries later, at a time when we can see that she was a true prophet. And now her writings are read all over the world. She is famous and she never left her room. No one could have ever predicted that she would touch so many lives. She broke all the molds, erased all the maps, and did just what God asked of her.

The National Episcopal Church will meet in a few weeks to discuss the future of the church. Controversial issues such as the blessing of gay relationships and if we should give communion to people who are not baptized, these issues are on the table to be discussed and pondered. But the deeper question which underscores everything is about the future. What will our church look like in 50 years? This Cathedral is a rare beacon of growth and hope in a time when many Episcopal churches are shrinking and even dying. Denominations themselves seem to be blending together. What is to come next?

If we look to the story of David, we must believe that something new and unexpected will happen, that the church will change and it will look different than it has looked before. But we also will learn that it is God alone who knows what it will look like. Our job is to put aside our maps, our thoughts of the way that things should be, and listen. God will identify our new leaders, our new ways and hopes and dreams, but they may look very different from what we expected.

I love how, when Samuel has seen all of the brothers, he does not just leave in frustration, but he asks Jesse, "Are there any others?" He sticks around to ask the question which results in David's appearance.

That is what we should be asking God every day. Is this what you want? Where is my next step? My life may look different than anything that I could have imagined. Is this what you have in mind for me, God? Not my will, but yours be done.




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