No Room in the Inn; No Room in the End

Time for All Ages

The sermon on 12-9-12 was preceded earlier in the service with a “Time for All Ages” that is important for understanding the sermon.   During this time I did an experiment with the children.  We had two large jars and some rocks, pebbles, and bags of colored sand.  In the first jar we filled it first with the large rocks, then were able to get additional pebbles in the jar in the open spaces, then completed filling it up with sand.  For the second jar, I told them we would start instead with the sand.  After filling it up with sand, I said we would now put in the pebbles then the rocks.  One little girl immediately responded that we couldn’t do that because the sand had filled it all up.  We concluded the time by agreeing that if we wanted to include rocks and pebbles, as well as sand, we needed to put the rocks in first, then the pebbles, then the sand.   I told them their I would share more about the jars with their grown-ups who brought them to church, and they could ask them to tell them more about it on the way home – to see if the grown-ups were paying attention! 

Reading:  Luke 2:  4-7:  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Sermon

This past Friday night we had a wonderful gathering at our home which some of you attended.  It was co-sponsored by the Hispanic community organization Voces Unidas.  The celebration was called Las Posadas – which means “the inns” in Spanish.  In Mexico, they celebrate this for nine days --- and go to homes in their neighborhoods each night singing the Las Posadas song – which requests entry for Mary and Joseph.  They are turned down at each house till the last one.  Then they are welcomed in and enjoy a feast together.  For our celebration on our property, we went to different doors – Mama’s room, the storage shed, and the “Holy of Holies” outhouse by the Labyrinth, singing the request in Spanish – then hearing the response from those inside the doors that there is “No Room.”  Finally we ended up at our back screened porch door and were welcomed in, sang “Joy to the World” – and enjoyed our feast together before the children had fun breaking the piñata. 

Although this ritual is a reminder of the story of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging, it doesn’t exactly end the same way as that familiar story, does it?   The gospel of Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph were not welcomed into an inn with a feast waiting for them – but had to lay baby Jesus in a manger; basically a animal feeding trough; because there was “No Room” for them in the inn.  Now western civilization has “whitewashed” this manger scene (and I’m using that term deliberately) to one with folks with nice clean clothes standing and smiling at baby Jesus.  And of course they are surrounded by shepherds, three wise men, and angels – all at the same time.  We’ve modified the story a little with our traditions, haven’t we?  This reminds me of a little tale I heard many years ago.  The Sunday School teacher had given the children a coloring sheet with just that scene for them to color one Sunday morning.  One little boy, though, had added a character to the scene.  Right by the manger he drew a rather stout fellow – sort of a Friar Tuck looking guy.  The teacher asked, “Tommy, who is that?” 

And Tommy replied, “Oh, that’s Round John Virgin.”  (Sing – Round John Virgin, Mother and Child”)

But this was not that scene.  One would assume that the intention of this story was to indicate a very lowly, humble, probably smelly -- difficult beginning for Jesus. 

Now, it’s understandable that the innkeeper turned them away; the inn was full.  But what if he had known that this baby would be one whose teachings would last for millennia; that this baby’s birth would end up being important enough to future generations that they would divide their calendars --- AD and BC by that event.  If he knew, would he have reserved a room; or perhaps even vacated his own room for them?

That’s the “No Room” Bible story.  What’s the story for us?

The late UU minister Roger Cowan asked his parishioners: 

Why is so much of life like Bethlehem's Inn? Why does so much of love and goodness in our world, of hope and possibility, get shut out?  The most obvious reason is that the inn was already full. Those who arrived first were served first. The innkeeper wasn't mean-spirited. Others got there first, the place was full and that was that.  But just by such plausible, defensible circumstance, (he says) personal enlightenment and spiritual growth get shut from our lives. Our mind space is given to other guests... And what gets our attention gets us.

And that brings us back to our little experiment we did with the children during the Time for All Ages.  If our attention is on the sand, and we fill up our jar with sand first, then there is no room for the pebbles, much less the rocks.  If the rocks represent the things that are of primary importance in our lives, that which we consider divine or sacred or ultra-significant – whatever word you want to use, then we need to put them in first!

In the Christmas story, Jesus represents the divine; but was shut out of that inn and born in a stable. 

I again quote from Roger Cowan who said:  

Most everything we treasure has been born in some sorry place, often rejected and shut out, with only a few persons wise enough to perceive the meaning. We need...receptive hearts to see the holy when it knocks on our door...

Then Rev. Cowan provides this warning:

Time does more than pass. It narrows down our chances. The knock comes and is gone.

Whoa!  That’s hard.  It reminds me of a folk rock song by Harry Chapin.  You know it.  It starts out like this:

(Sing)

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then.

Of course the song goes on to follow the child into adulthood with the father still promising to have a good time later.  The tables are then turned with the son turning out just like his father after all – and not having time for his dad as his father gets older.  Just as there was no room for baby Jesus in the Inn, there was no room for this father in the END. 

Folks, that father’s relationship with his son should have been a ROCK.  It should have been placed in the jar first.  And I can go back in my own life and there are rocks I have failed to put in the jar of certain times before it was filled with sand. 

Which reminds me of the parable Jesus told of two builders.  The wise one built his house upon a rock; and the foolish built his on the sand – which soon shifted destroying the house.  We should make sure we build our houses – spending enough time, efforts, and resources on the rocks in our lives.  
 

Now I ALSO realize that one can be focused on some aspects of some things we deem important in a sick and unhealthy way.  Just spending TIME and resources on a relationship or with other areas of our life that we deem important is not enough if that time and those resources are not well spent.  I have had to learn this lesson myself over and over again in my own relationship with my family members.

Yes, I have been what folks refer to as an enabler.  And I could be wrong, but I don’t think I’m the only one here today who may have had this problem at some time in their lives.  An enabler is defined by Webster as “one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior.”  So please know that I’m not talking about just spending time and resources on the things that matter --- but time and resources that are well spent and meaningful.

Too often, though – that’s not the problem.  The problem instead is that we ignore the things that really matter – caught up in the business of the world and our lives – or distracted by other less important and meaningful activities --- and like the dad in the song, we become too busy.  Busy, busy, busy.  If we could strive to simplify our lives, – have less STUFF and THINGS to worry about and make payments on, then we could be present and receptive when those divine opportunities knock on our doors. 

Oh – but we are now in the midst of the holiday season – bombarded with messages that encourage us to buy more – not less; spend more time in frivolous activities, not less, drink more, not less; eat more – not less.  It’s a time of MORE not AMORE!  But a lot of it is simply sand – that will fill up our time, our minds, and our lives, leaving NO ROOM for the ROCKS; no room for the sacred, the divine, those matters and relationships that are of ultimate importance.

 

Maybe I’m just a little too cynical this time of year and need to reframe my own thinking a little.  Don Hawks, a United Methodist minister who enjoys the rush of Christmas, encourages his folks to do just that.  He says:  “’Fighting the crowds’ can be read as ‘mingling with the holiday throngs.’ Those ‘harried chores’ and ‘endless items to cross off lists,’ can just as easily be read as ‘joyful preparations’ and ‘lots of fun stuff to do.’”

Okay, I’ll try Don.  And indeed, I do enjoy hosting groups at our home during this season and trying to share some peace and joy.  But I recognize that I don’t want to get into the hassle and rush and spend money on gifts not needed.  That’s sand and pebbles to me.  For this holiday season --- and indeed – for my life, I want to make sure I have room for the rocks.

What about you?  What are the rocks that you want to be sure and have room for in your mind and heart – in your life?  

I’m going to hold up a few rocks for us to consider.  Here’s one.  What does this represent for you?  And here’s another… what is it?  Here’s a beautiful third rock, what is it?  What does it represent in your life?  (Okay Readers – take some time to really think about these before moving on.)

Since I have not perfected mind reading, I don’t know what these rocks represent to you.  But I can tell you that for me --- this congregation, this faith tradition, and what we do together here is a ROCK.  And if it’s not a ROCK for you, I challenge you to open yourself to that possibility.  If you want to grow your soul and work to heal and nurture this world, you need a foundation for building.  You need a rock.  And for folks like us – Unitarian Universalism and this congregation is a mighty good one.

Now if that metaphor just doesn’t work for you – and you need something more up to date, I’ll give you one.  There are a lot of us in this community who want to make a difference – in ourselves and in this world.  But we can’t do it alone.  And we can’t do it standing still.  We need a VEHICLE.  I’m not saying we’re the only vehicle on the road that can get you there.  But we are a mighty good one.  One that doesn’t tell you what you have to believe; one that is radically inclusive, one that challenges your mind and heart, one that promotes peace, justice, compassion, and love for all.  It’s a beautiful bus – headed for the beloved community.  And there is ROOM on the bus for you!  Hop on board.  Let’s ride!