The Bungee Cord. 1-27-25

Hello,

Over and over again, one hears that these are very chaotic and dangerous times. World orders are crumbling and changing. Natural calamities. Worldwide epidemics. People deeply polarized with matching deep anger. You don’t have to be awake too long to hear people tell you that we are in a time of walking on thin ice.

As we tread this cracking ice, people are responding in many ways. The biggest response that I see is fear. Fear often does take hold of a person when one finds one’s self watching the ground that one is standing on become brittle and eroding away. It’s natural. So, out of fear people try and hold onto something new, and we see that happening. Hatred of strangers. Hoarding of things. Strengthening one’s muscles, figuratively and literally. Building walls, once again figuratively and literally. Being cynical about everything. Grabbing onto things that don’t make sense.

Of course, it would be foolish to passively ignore the fact that a lion is charging at you. Fear is not necessarily a bad thing. The bad thing about fear is that it can lead us to do things that are bad for us and bad for the world.

As many of you know, I am a rabid University of Illinois fan. I consider my fandom to be a healthy meaningless diversion to cope with the daily realities of life. Anyway, the Fighting Illini were playing a game a couple of weeks ago that personal scheduling problems did not allow me to watch. But thanks to the many wonders of technology, I was able to watch it the next day.

In the meantime, between the game’s end and my watching the game, I came across the score. Illinois victory! This was the first time that I have ever watched a game having already known the outcome. I had always thought that to do so would be boring. However, as I watched, I did not find myself feeling boredom. What I found myself feeling was two things: peace and curiosity. When we were falling behind due to sloppy play and missed shots, I was not worried. I knew we were going to win. And when we were digging holes for ourselves, I found myself wondering, “How are we going to get out of these holes and win?” Amid the chaos and disasters, I watched with peace and curiosity because I knew…I knew..the outcome.

I, who lives with the knowledge of the empty Easter tomb, carry with me the rock solid knowledge of how the on court battle of my life will end. When it ends, I will find myself embraced by Jesus in an eternal victory hug, and hear Jesus say, as a victorious coach does, “Well done good and faithful servant.” So, with that impending hug and words of praise I need not fear the chaos and danger. Though the world may be quaking, the embrace of the one who has “the whole world in his hands” will be mine. Though my sins blind my eyes and burden my shoulders, the light that enters the darkness and the yolk that is easy will be mine. Though the holes that I get pushed into or dig for myself may seem bottomless, the grasp of the good shepherd who search will not end for me until I am found will be mine. Though the pain that might bring me to my knees in paralysis may take ahold of me, the life giving, power-laden words of one who speaks, “take up you pallet and walk,” will fall upon my ears.

I have witnessed the end of the match…that is the witness of the Christian faith…a witness that has been passed on to me, and which I pass onto you. So, in these days, when so many are reacting out of fear, you and I can live these days in peace and curiosity. Jesus has won the victory!

Have a great week.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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