PART 4: just not in the middle class

It is really hard to see priceless when you are a middle class Christian.

It turns out that priceless is somewhere out there past the far end of price, where saints spend their time. We probably can’t claim anything priceless, but we know that it is more than the highest priced thing we can claim. When middle class people try to imagine more we land on streets of gold, gates made of single jewels, and palaces prepared by God for each of us, next to all the saints and next to Jesus. That’s our heaven, and just like all of our other fantasies, we know heaven is by invitation only.

So in this way priceless is put just out of reach, and we live with more – the priced. When ever we see any sign of more – more paid mortgages, more lottery wins, more trips to the sun – we see it is a sign that we are on the right side of that invitation and that God is somewhere near by.

This is so obvious to us that we see our whole lives this way. Middle class life is by invitation only. It is the reward for good living. The thing with more is that it is never enough. Even more family, more health, more Jesus always needs more. More of you Lord.

On the flip side we also know living with less means we are doing something wrong. Consider this middle class anthem. It actually names those outside the fantasy:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.”

The leading edge of this hymn, like countless others, tells us who are winners and losers, sinners and saints, and, ultimately, who qualifies for more and who is left with less. We are middle class so we can’t see what is past the far end of price.

We don’t know that the race is already won and the crowds are cheering?

We don’t know that the bells are ringing and we aren’t pulling any ropes.

We certainly don’t know that Jesus is coming through the door every day. We don’t know that Jesus is not middle class?

PART 3: on earth, as it is in heaven

The following exchange about value was inspired by the report found in the lectionary reading of the Acts 1:6 – 14 

Two in white, “Galileans, why do you stand gazing up toward heaven?“ 

Galileans, “You don’t get it, do you?  Where else should we be looking?  Just moments ago we were asking Jesus if, since he had just conquered death, did he know when it would be time to bring in a free Israel, a new Jerusalem, a new Tesla, a new job, and the peace we are all waiting for?  He gave us this strange answer, and then, ‘poof’ he was levitated into the clouds. Where else should we be gazing? He was just here, and now he’s gone…into heaven!”

Two in white,  “I don’t know about levitated, but he certainly was lifted up…What did he say?  What was the strange answer?” 

Galileans,  “He said no.”

Two in white,  “That’s it?  No?  That’s all he said?”  

Galileans,  “He said no, he did not have authority over any of that. He said only the Father knew those times.  But, how can that be right?  Don’t you think that’s strange?  Especially now.  After this…being lifted up?  What was he doing? Was he flying?”    

Two in white,  “He was lifted up.  But it gets stranger. This Jesus, the one that you saw lifted up…the one that said no …he will return in the same way.”   

Galileans,  “You mean the Jesus that turned his face to Jerusalem and was lifted up before all the people, the Jews, and the Romans.  That Jesus?”

Two in white,  “That Jesus. The same Jesus in the same way. So take your heads out of the clouds. Open your eyes, look around you. Did he say anything about where to look?” 

Galileans,   “Actually, he told us to look out for him in Jerusalem, Judea and to the ends of the earth.” 

Two in white,  “he said earth?  Not heaven?”

Galileans, “Yes, earth”

Two in white, “So he said ‘no’ – he has no authority in heaven.  His authority is only on earth, and he gave that to you.”

Galileans,  “Authority?”

Two in white, “When he said to look out for him, what did he call you?”

Galileans, “He called us ‘witnesses’.” 

Two in white, “That’s it.  You are witnesses.  He gave you court level status, on earth.  That is all he had and he has given it to you.”

They looked at each other, stunned.  There is a long silence.  The sun is cresting the horizon. There is a brief flash as it dips below the arc of the world.

Galileans,  “on earth?” 

Two in white, “In the same way.  He will return in the same way.  You will not see him in the clouds.  He’s not a heavenly kind of guy.” 

They start to see the dawning recognition in each other’s eyes …some start to weep.  Others are silent, very still, lest this moment should somehow escape them.  And then, once they start, they all start at once: talking and gathering their belongings strewn across the hillside, packing, dressing, for the trip back home.

PART 2: that is always there

…but it’s not entirely obvious.  Seeing it is often an accident.  

Greeted at the top of the stairs on your way into church, by an outstretched hand with the Sunday Program, you are looking into the dull, rusted out eyes of a man who collects a monthly disability cheque, and follows instructions from a woman with a shaved head and silver green tattoos on her swollen calves.  

A chat during coffee time can extend long after everyone is back in their seats. Not all his words escape the overgrown mustache and beard, so it takes concentration to catch that his first wife died slowly, while he was the pastor of a church in the deep south. That might explain the ragged King James Bible and the frayed, slightly too tight, dark blue suit.  To your horror what follows is a blow by blow accounting of the slow death of each of his three exotic birds left outside, because the landlord refused to let them come into the house this winter.

Rocking back and forth, his woman adds a running commentary to the stories, “It’s not his fault…  He’s a good man…  He always looks out for me…  He has had those birds for three years…  He loves those birds.”  He looks at her, touching the edge of her sleeve.  A smile plays with the corners of his mouth as he goes on to explain that he is taller than his brother, but that his brother’s partner just left him.  

Then suddenly he realizes that the service has ended while we were chatting.  He stands, twists and pulls on the bell rope coming through the ceiling above their bench.  It takes a few pulls till the tolling reaches us from the bell tower.  He pulls again and again.  She holds his Bible and looks up into his face till the bell’s last ring, long after he has stopped pulling.

She holds his Bible and looks up into his face till the bell’s last ring, long after he has stopped pulling.

And then, he’s helping her with her coat, and she smiles and says clearly, “I won’t be here next week – I want you to know why I won’t be here.  I’m having that surgery on my legs. But he will be.  He wants to help with greeting people and he has to ring the bell.”   He sticks out his hand with a smile that fills his entire face.  And then, arm in arm, they slowly make their way down the 7 steps to the front sidewalk.  They wait for the light to change and begin the 45 min. walk home.  

And you gather your things and find your way home.

PART 1: a flash of light

The story starts on a Walmart parking lot after dusk. A large crowd has gathered around a camera crew all set up with big lights, a red carpet and a woman wearing a black tuxedo holding a microphone, 

“Ladies and gentlemen.  Tonight is the night we have all been waiting for.  As promised, behind me on the platform here are the two cars – On my right is the newest sedan from Tesla, the Model S. Everyone knows about its formidable accomplishments including the record-breaking 0 – 60 in under 3 seconds and its range of 365 klms.  On my left, a rather rare, limited production electric car called the Zenn LSV.  Made in Quebec until 2013, this car is fast becoming a collector’s item.  Only 500 cars were ever made.  It is considered a “neighborhood car” having a range of 40 klms and a top speed of 60 klms per hour.  We have secured licensing for this car in Ontario.   The draw for these two cars ended on December 9th, and tonight we will announce the winners…..”  

The winners are announced, an older man and a young woman happily step onto the platform to accept their keys.  The cars are driven off the lot and into the future, and the lights go down.  

Decades later, a young boy playing behind his grandma’s barn, is sitting in the rusted out shell of the Zenn car, pretending to be a race car driver, leaning into each imaginary curve and eventually crossing the finish line of his dreams.  He crawls out of his race car window, stands beside the car and makes his bows to the cheering crowds in the stands.  His eye catches a flash of light underneath the Zenn car turned race car.  Crawling under the shell he pulls out a fairly large flat brushed aluminum case.  Four rusted out metal clips are all that is left of a failed fastening system.  

Breathless and bright-eyed, the boy lays the case on the kitchen counter.  The entire extended family gathers around and without saying a word the grandmother enters a 4-digit code on the LED keyboard at the base of the case.  As everyone holds their breath, the case opens with the hiss of servos.  Soft blue lights turn on as another hiss lifts a transparent case to stand and lock into the top edge of the lid.  The boy stumbles backward to leave room for a 3D helio-display of the lady in the black tuxedo, “Ladies and gentlemen, let me present, the Mona Lisa”.   The hovering lady vanishes, revealing the painting, leaving everyone in stunned silence.  

The little boy notices the secret smile on his grandma’s lips.  He runs over and gives her a hug, 

“Is that a picture of you, grandma?”  

“No darling,  this lady came with the car.  She was my special secret for many years.”  

“What is going to happen to her now?”

“Did you win your race today?”

“Yes”

“Were the stands full or empty?

“They were packed, grandma.”

“And they cheered?”

“Yes, they did.”

“And what did you do?”

“I bowed … That’s when I saw the flash of light”

“Well, I guess she’s yours then.  All your older siblings and cousins have played in that car, and no one has seen the case till now.”