TITLE: Butterflies and Bare Feet

PAGE: 1 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08 A4/P4 REV. JEAN HOLMES

TITLE: Butterflies and Bare Feet SCRIPTURE: Psalm 19 & Luke 12:13-34

WHEN I GRADUATED FROM KANELAND HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1968 MY FIFTH GRADE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER – MARTHA ZERBY – GAVE ME ONE OF THOSE WOODEN DECORATIVE PLAQUES WITH A QUOTE ON IT. I DON’T KNOW WHERE THE PLAQUE IS ANY MORE. IT PROBABLY DIDN’T SURVIVE ONE OF MY MANY PURGINGS OF THE “STUFF” THAT COLLECTS SO EASILY AROUND OUR HOUSE. BUT EVEN IF I DON’T HAVE THE PLAQUE I WILL NEVER FORGET THE QUOTE. IT WAS FROM HENRY DAVID THOREAU AND THIS IS WHAT IT SAID: “HAPPINESS IS LIKE A BUTTERFLY. THE MORE YOU CHASE IT THE MORE IT ELUDES YOU. BUT IF YOU TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO OTHER THINGS, IT COMES AND SITS SOFTLY ON YOUR SHOULDER.”

MRS. ZERBY KNEW HOW UNHAPPY I WAS AS AN AWKWARD TEENAGER, AND HER GIFT FELT TO ME LIKE A DIVINE INVITATION TO HAPPINESS. IT IS AN INVITATION THAT HAS BEEN WITH ME EVERY SINCE THAT SPECIAL GIFT WAS GIVEN. AND IT IS AN INVITATION I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU AS WELL. TODAY I INVITE ALL OF US TO NOT SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS, BUT RATHER TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND ALLOW THE BUTTERFLY OF HAPPINESS TO LAND ON OUR SHOULDERS, AND SHOW US ANOTHER ATTRIBUTE OF THE REALM OF GOD.

IN TODAY’S READING FROM LUKE JESUS IS TEACHING THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GATHERED. SCRIPTURE TELLS US THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED. SO MANY PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE TRAMPLING ON EACH OTHER! PEOPLE WERE CLAMORING TO HEAR WHAT JESUS HAD TO SAY. I AM GUESSING THEY WERE UNHAPPY AND DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR LIVES AND THEY WANTED A WAY OUT. THEY WANTED TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS!

ONE MAN IN THE CROWDS SHOUTS OUT TO JESUS, “TELL MY BROTHER TO DIVIDE THE FAMILY INHERITANCE.” THE CUSTOM OF THOSE DAYS WAS FOR THE OLDEST BROTHER TO INHERIT A DOUBLE PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY HEARING FROM A YOUNGER BROTHER. BUT JESUS WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH ARBITRATING A FAMILY DISAGREEMENT. PAGE: 2 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11

ALL JESUS SEES IN THE REQUEST FROM THIS MAN IS GREED. JESUS SEES THAT THE MAN’S UNHAPPINESS IS CONNECTED TO HIS DESIRE TO HAVE MORE. SO JESUS TELLS A STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO WANTS MORE – GETS MORE – HAS MORE – AND DOESN’T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING WITH WHAT HE HAS AMASSED.

MY FRIENDS, GREED IS A HUMAN THING WE ALL DO. WHAT ONE OF US DOES NOT GET GREEDY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE? IF ONE COOKIE MAKES US HAPPY THEN TWO WILL MAKE US EVEN MORE HAPPY – RIGHT? IF ONE CAR SERVES US WELL – THEN TWO CARS WILL SERVE US EVEN BETTER. IF A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE HAS BEEN COMFORTABLE THEN A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE WILL BE EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE – OR SO WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY OUR AMERICAN CULTURE TO BELIEVE THAT HAPPINESS COMES FROM HAVING MORE. JESUS, IN THIS PARABLE OF THE GREEDY MAN, IS TELLING US THAT HAVING MORE DOES NOT MAKE US HAPPY. QUITE THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. JESUS SAYS TO BE RICH IN GOD AND NOT THINGS – THIS IS TRUE HAPPINESS.

THIS SUMMER THE OLD PARAMUS REFORMED CHURCH WHERE MY HUSBAND IS THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC IS STUDYING A BOOK CALLED SABBATH WRITTEN BY WAYNE MULLER. THE SUBTITLE OF THIS BOOK IS RESTORING THE SACRED RHYTHM OF REST.

I REMEMBER READING THIS BOOK SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS TAKING A SABBATICAL LEAVE FROM MINISTRY. AND I REMEMBER THE BOOK HELPING ME TO RECONNECT WITH GOD. I REMEMBER THIS BOOK HELPING ME TO BE “RICH IN GOD” AS JESUS SUGGESTS IN HIS PARABLE, SO I PICKED IT UP TO READ A SECOND TIME. IT WAS SO GOOD TO BE REMINDED OF THE WISDOM OF MULLER’S MATERIAL. IT WAS GOOD TO READ ABOUT THE DEPTH OF HAPPINESS THAT COMES FROM STOPPING THE FAST PACE OF OUR LIVES IN ORDER TO KNOW TRUE HAPPINESS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

MULLER HAS AN ENTIRE SECTION IN HIS BOOK ON HAPPINESS. PAGE: 3 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11 AND THE FIRST ISSUE HE TALKS ABOUT AS THE ANTITHESIS OF HAPPINESS IS THE ISSUE OF CONSUMPTION, WHICH CAN EASILY BE TRANSLATED INTO THE CONCEPT OF GREED. MULLER INTRODUCED ME TO A BIT OF HISTORY I DIDN’T KNOW BEFORE BY MENTIONING THE NAME E. S. COWDRICK – A PERSON I NEEDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON. NOW I HAVE. AND WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS SOMETHING I SUSPECTED BUT HAD NEVER SEEN ENOUGH FACTS TO SUPPORT MY THEORY.

IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY IT SEEMS THERE WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT ON THE PART OF INDUSTRIALISTS LIKE WALTER HENDERSON GRIMES AND E. S. COWDRICK TO CREATE A “A NEW ECONOMIC GOSPEL OF CONSUMPTION.” THE BASIC PREMIS WAS THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO BE ENTICED AND ENCOURAGED TO CONSUME MORE SO THAT INDUSTRY WOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE, THUS CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT. IT WAS ALL ABOUT ECONOMIC EXPANSION. OUR ECONOMY GREW BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE LEAD TO BELIEVE THEY NEEDED MORE THAN WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED. IN OTHER WORDS – WE WERE TAUGHT TO BE GREEDY. WE WERE TAUGHT DESIRE.

PERHAPS WHAT OUR INDUSTRIALIST FRIENDS DIDN’T FORSEE WAS THAT THEY WERE CREATING THE PERFECT BREEDING GROUND FOR ANOTHER KIND OF GROWTH. AND THAT WAS A GROWTH IN BASIC HUMAN UNHAPPINESS. MULLER LAYS OUT THIS IDEOLOGY PERFECTLY WHEN HE SAYS: “ HAPPINESS IS THE SINGLE COMMODITY NOT PRODUCED BY THE FREE- MARKET ECONOMY. WORSE THAN THAT, WHEN WE ARE HAPPY WE DON’T FEEL THE NEED TO BUY ANYTHING. THE SABBATH, A DAY OF DELIGHT, A DAY TO BE AT PEACE WITH ALL WE HAVE, IS A RADICAL, DANGEROUS PRESCRIPTION. BECAUSE HAPPY PEOPLE WILL GRIND THE WHEELS OF PROGRESS TO A TERRIBLE HALT; A BLOODLESS REVOLUTION, WITHOUT A SINGLE SHOT!” (PG. 132) MULLER GOES ON TO SAY, “IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PARTICULAR MODEL OF CIVILIZATION IS ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO PRODUCE SUFFERING” (PP.137)

LIKE THE FARMER IN JESUS’ PARABLE, THE MORE WE AMASS “STUFF” IN ORDER TO GAIN HAPPINESS, THE MORE WE EXPERIENCE THE DEATH OF OUR SOULS AND THE FURTHER WE MOVE AWAY FROM GOD. PAGE: 4 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11 MULLER SAYS TO STOP – TAKE A SABBATH BREAK – AND THERE YOU WILL FIND HAPPINESS. THERE HAPPINESS WILL ALIGHT UPON YOUR SHOULDER.

ACTUALLY, MULLER GOES SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TRY SHOPPING WITH THE EXPLICIT INTENT TO NOT BUY ANYTHING. HE CALLS THIS A SABBATH PRACTICE. SO I TRIED IT. I ACTUALLY WENT INTO MY FAVORITE STORE – LORD AND TAYLOR – WITH THE CLEAR GOAL OF NOT BUYING ANYTHING. AND I SUCCEEDED! I WALKED THROUGH THE STORE ADMIRING THE MERCHANDISE. THEN I WALKED OUT WITHOUT MAKING ONE PURCHASE. AND THE FEELING AS I WALKED OUT THE DOOR AFTER AN HOUR OF SHOPPING WAS TREMENDOUS FREEDOM. IT WAS TRUE HAPPINESS, AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GIVE IT A TRY!

NOW AFTER THE PARABLE ABOUT GREED JESUS GOES ON TO TEACH THE CROWDS ABOUT FINDING TRUE HAPPINESS. THIS TIME HE TEACHES ON A TOPIC. AND THE TOPIC HE FOCUSSES ON IS WORRY. WORRY IS ANOTHER VERY HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT WORKS AGAINST OUR ABILITY TO HAVE THE BUTTERFLY OF HAPPINESS PERCH UPON OUR UNEXPECTING SHOULDERS.

IN THIS CONTEXT TO WORRY MEANS TO STRIVE – TO REACH – TO WORK AT ACHIEVING SOMETHING OR GETTING SOMEWHERE WITH AN INTENSE FEAR THAT WHATEVER IT IS WILL NOT HAPPEN. JESUS FUNDAMENTALLY SAYS DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BEYOND YOUR BASIC NEEDS. HE SAYS DO NOT STRIVE – DO NOT WORRY, BUT RATHER FIND REST IN THE TREMENDOUS LOVE GOD HAS FOR US. JESUS POINTS OUT HOW OUR HAPPINESS IS A PART OF WHAT KINGDOM LIVING IS ALL ABOUT. HE SAYS, “IT IS THE FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE (MIGHT I SAY HAPPINESS?) TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.” RATHER THAN STRIVING TO FIND PLEASURE IN CONSUMING GOODS, GOD CALLS US TO FIND OUR HAPPINESS IN KINGDOM LIVING WHERE RELATIONSHIPS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

WHERE IS YOUR HEART? IS IT WITH GOD? IS IT WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST? WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT, BECAUSE WHERE OUR HEART IS – THAT’S WHERE WE FIND OUR BEST TREASURE – OUR HAPPINESS. PAGE: 5 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11

WAYNE MULLER ALSO GIVES SOME INTERESTING DIRECTIVES CONCERNING JESUS’ TEACHINGS ABOUT WORRY. MULLER SAYS TO STOP – TAKE A SABBATH REST – SIT STILL AND FEEL THE PLEASURE OF SIMPLY BEING. MULLER EQUATES NOT WORRYING WITH TAKING TIME TO EXPERIENCE THE SENSUALITY OF LIFE. THE SABBATH PRACTICE HE SUGGESTS AS AN ANTIDOTE TO WORRY IS WALKING BARE FOOT IN THE GRASS.

EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL ON THE FARM I HAVE LOVED GOING BAREFOOT – EVEN WHEN I HAD TO WALK ACROSS THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY TO GET TO THE GRASSY PART. I LOVE THE FEELING OF BEING GROUNDED AND CONNECTED TO THE GENERATIONS OF LIFE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE ME. BARE FEET OFTEN BRING ME INTO THE PRESENT MOMENT. AND LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT IS LADEN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF HAPPINESS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PAST REGRETS OR FUTURE ANXIETIES. THERE IS ONLY THE NOW – THE PRESENT. BEING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT ALWAYS REMINDS ME THAT LIFE IS A GIFT, FULLY TO BE LIVED.

NOW MY HUSBAND DOESN’T MUCH LIKE GOING BAREFOOT. HE SAYS IT HURTS HIS TENDER LITTLE FEET. SO DON’T GO BAREFOOT IF YOU FIND IT PAINFUL. BUT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING, TRY TAKING OFF YOUR SHOES AND WALKING THROUGH COOL LUSH GRASS. FEEL YOURSELF GROUNDED IN ALL OF CREATION. EXPERIENCE THE POWERFUL PRESENCE OF GOD. FEEL THE HAPPINESS IN THAT MOMENT.

A FEW YEARS AGO WILL SMITH STARRED IN A MOVIE CALLED THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (SPELLED WITH A Y). IT’S A TRUE STORY ABOUT A MAN NAMED CHRIS GARDNER. IT’S A STORY ABOUT WORRY AND STRIVING AND SURVIVING. AND IT’S A MOVIE I FOUND ALMOST AGONIZING TO WATCH BECAUSE OF HOW WELL IT ILLUSTRATES THE SUFFERING PART OF THE ECONOMIC GOSPEL OF CONSUMPTION. CHRIS SEEKS TO WIN THE PRIZE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH A BROKERAGE FIRM CALLED DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS. IT SEEMS EVERYTHING ON EARTH THAT CAN POSSIBLY GET IN HIS WAY OF WINNING THE PRIZE DOES. HE IS LEFT BY HIS WIFE TO CARE FOR THEIR 5 YEAR OLD SON, CHRISTOPHER. HE’S ROBBED OF HIS LIVELIHOOD. PAGE: 6 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11 HE’S ARRESTED FOR NOT PAYING HIS PARKING TICKETS AND ENDS UP SPENDING THE NIGHT IN JAIL. THE IRS GARNISHES HIS VERY MEAGER BANK ACCOUNT FOR BACK TAXES. HE ENDS UP HOMELESS WITH HIS SON AT ONE POINT, AND THEY EVEN SPEND ONE NIGHT IN THE MEN’S ROOM OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BART STATION. IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.

I WOULD SAY 95% OF THE MOVIE IS ABOUT STRUGGLE AND STRIVING AND WORRY. THEN IN THE LAST 5 MINUTES CHRIS IS HIRED BY DEAN WITTER OUT OF A GROUP OF 20 OTHER INTERNS. THE JOY CHRIS EXPRESSES IS ENOUGH TO MAKE TEARS RUN DOWN MY CHEEKS AS HE RUSHES THROUGH THE CROWDS ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY TO GET TO HIS SON’S DAY CARE CENTER SO HE CAN SWOOP CHRISTOPHER UP AND HUG HIM TIGHT. THAT’S THE LAST SCENE OF THE MOVIE – PURE JOY AND RELIEF FROM THE TENSION OF ALL THE WORRY.

THEN THE SCREEN GOES BLANK FOR A SECOND BEFORE 3 OR 4 STARK SENTENCES INFORM US THAT CHRIS GARDNER WENT ON TO OPEN HIS OWN BROKERAGE FIRM AND BECOME A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE.

THE DIRECTOR SEEMS TO WANT US TO BELIEVE CHRIS FOUND TRUE HAPPINESS (SPELLED WITH AN I) IN THAT MOMENT. BUT I WONDER ABOUT THAT.

YOU SEE, THERE WAS ONE SCENE RIGHT BEFORE THE FINAL TURN IN THE PLOT THAT FELT MORE LIKE TRUE HAPPINESS TO ME. IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DECISION WOULD BE ANNOUNCED ABOUT WHO WAS HIRED BY DEAN WITTER. CHRIS WAS WITH HIS SON CHRISTOPHER ON THE SHORE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. THE SUN IS SETTING INTO A BRILLIANTLY COLORED SKY. I COULDN’T SEE FOR CERTAIN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE FATHER AND SON WERE BOTH BAREFOOT IN THE SAND AS THEY TOSSED STONES INTO THE WAVES ALONG THE SHORE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SCENE WITH NO WORDS. BUT WHAT I SAW IN THAT SCENE WAS CHRIS BEING VERY PRESENT WITH HIS SON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MOVIE. AND FOR THAT PRECIOUS MOMENT IN TIME CHRIS WASN’T STRIVING FOR ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO PURSUIT. THERE WAS ONLY HAPPINESS. THERE WAS SIMPLE PRESENCE. PAGE: 7 DATE: 4/9/18 TIME OF RUN: 13:08:11 FATHER AND CHILD – RELATING IN LOVE.

MY FRIENDS, IT IS THE FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO SHARE MOMENTS OF KINGDOM HAPPINESS WITH ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. MAY IT BE SO FOR YOU AND FOR ME. AMEN.