Rev. George Miller
Sept 24, 2017
Philippians 1:21-30
“As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again.”
“Great men are not born great, they are made great.”
“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.”
“There’s no place like HOME.”
“I’m still HERE.”
These are all quotes from movies, providing inspiration for all people when the storms of life rage on.
My favorite movie quote is not a well known one, but nevertheless a quote that has carried me through 2 decades-
“I may not be perfect, but I’m strong.”
It’s from a movie called “The Best Man”, stated by a woman who refuses to be lied to, coddled, or protected from the truth, even if it hurts.
“I may not be perfect, but I’m strong.”
I wonder how many people can claim this quote today, after all we have been through pre and post Hurricane Irma.
I think this is a quote that the author of today’s letter could attest to as well.
“I may not be perfect, but I’m strong.”
Philippians is a letter written by Paul to a congregation he loves very much.
He is currently under arrest in another city, separated from his beloved church, and he is in chains, chains that no doubt were devised to make him physically uncomfortable 24 hours a day.
Paul’s crime? Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Good News that even in the darkest of times there is an eternal light that shines forth for all.
Paul is in an uncomfortable situation. His emotional pain is eased by a care package the Philippian church has sent him, with items meant to soothe his weary soul.
As a way to say thanks for their ministry to him, he composes a letter in which he is honest about his predicament, and he is honest about his emotions.
Paul does not sugar coat things or present his current state through false hope.
He tells them that he has been thinking about dying. That perhaps death would be better than to be denied his freedom and shackled with chains.
And yet, he finds a wellspring of strength within him to stay alive; to stay strong. This wellspring is the Living Water of Christ, and Paul’s understanding that he has been called to share this Heavenly Water with as many as he knows.
Paul is aware that the church members are worried about him, and here he is, the one in chains, finding ways to comfort the congregation; to let them know that though they may never meet again, Paul has no regrets.
Paul has peace, and he wants them to remember what a fellowship, what a joy divine it is to believe in Christ and to be part of such a faithful community.
He tells them to strive side by side with one another, and to live in a way worthy of Christ’s Good News.
If Paul was writing this letter today, and saw “The Best Man,” perhaps he would say “I may not be perfect, but I am strong…in Jesus Christ.”
Paul is a survivor, which makes sense, because after all he is a Jew, a person of the Book…
This big, beautiful Bible is a big, beautiful book written by survivors, and it is all about surviving.
Before there were movies that could inspire us with inspirational quotes, there was the Bible, telling us of how Eve and Adam survived being kicked out of the Garden.
How a family survives a devastating flood.
How a childless couple’s family tree survived with a promise from God about land and lineage.
How 2 minimum-wage women fooled Pharaoh and ensured that the Hebrew babies would not be put to death.
How former slaves survived harsh winds, turbulent waters and wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
How an entire faith survived total destruction of their Temple and being taken away to Babylon.
How 11 disciples and a handful of women survived the trauma of having their leader crucified, and boldly found a voice to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s resurrection.
Letters from a man, isolated from everyone he knew, freedom completely taken away, kept in chains cutting his wrists, who is able to write these words-
“…I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus…”
As people of faith, as People of the Bible, as Christians, as part of the Emmanuel United Church of Christ community, we are survivors.
As survivors we can testify that the troubles we’ve faced have not been easy. The last 2 weeks did not offer us any quick resolutions.
We each had our own unique pain, unique fear, unique exhaustion, unique problems to solve.
Many of us still do, as recovery from this kind of trauma takes a while to recuperate from.
We are not perfect, but we are strong.
As we continue to heal, as we continue to rebuild from the reality of Irma, there will be things we can do as we strive side by side.
We can believe in and look for the miracles. Not everything that happens next will make sense or be logical.
But if Jesus could feed the masses with a few loaves and fishes, there will be ways in which Jesus can care for us all.
We can develop ways to tell our stories to one another and to ourselves. Stories that follow Paul’s example and admit how we truly feel, instead of pretending everything is Ok when it is not.
We can hold dear to our rituals that hold meaning to our life. Our morning cup of coffee. Our afternoon walk. Our lunch at Outback or Caddy Shack.
As a church, we embrace our ability to celebrate Communion, to confess our sins, to give back to God, and to Fellowship.
And following Paul’s wise words, we find a way to recover by coming together as a community; to stride side by side just as we have with the ministries of the church, and the opportunities that present themselves to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with the Lord.
“I may not be perfect, but I am strong…in Jesus Christ.”
As alluded to earlier, one way Paul endured his torment was the fact that the Philippian church had sent him a care package, a gift of things that kept his spirits up, that gave him hope, that helped him feel connected.
Today’s letter is Paul’s testimony to a community that came together. A community of many individuals that acted as ONE.
That was the mark of the earliest Christians. They were people who learned how to share their gifts, and to share their resources.
The earliest Christians called each other “Brother” and “Sister”, greeted one another with a kiss, and were known throughout the community for how they shared meals, fed the hungry, soothed the sick, visited the imprisoned, and cared for the widow, orphan and immigrant.
In conclusion, we of Emmanuel UCC are survivors.
We have survived the storm.
We survived 3, 4, 5, 6 7, 8, 9 nights of no electricity, torn up trees, flooded streets, and unsafe water.
We survived ripped apart roofs, far away families worried about us, and we have survived watching our beloved animals suffer in the heat.
It was not easy. It was not fresh smelling. It was not pretty to see.
It was not without its problems, quibbles, or shells in our teeth.
But we survived.
We may not be perfect, but we are strong.
The Lord is our Shepherd.
Jesus was certainly in the boat, and Jesus certainly took us to the other side.
For that we can say “Amen” and “amen.”
A UCC Pastor's walk through the spiritual waters of Scripture, pop culture and life.
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