The Fallow Way:
“Tending The Light”
Joshua 24: 1-3a, 14-25, Matthew 25: 1-13
November 9, 2008
We enter a fallow time when God invites us intoThe Fallow Way: 

We enter God’s ways of holy rest and restoration.  We lean into the mystery of what lies just beneath the surface of our lives and prepares us for growth. 
What is it in your life that so longs for rest?
What is it already within you that longs to be restored?  …

that is just beneath the surface of your daily routine and awareness.
Within God’s holy timing, how may these two aspects of who you already

are come together…to move you to the life you long for?
Given today’s passages, what is it within you that needs tending? 

What is the light needed in your life so you can see where you are going and how? 

How may you be light in the life of others? How you prepare yourself to “shine”…how it is you

“tend the light” may make all the difference in a day, and in your life! Each person is responsible to tend the light of God’s life within them—one person cannot pass her or his inner spiritual strength/courage/light to another….even if asked.  Each one must be prepared. 

Jesus’ parable speaks to God’s desire for relationship with disciples,

a relationship that has continuing life and consequence.  
Now there are some problematics commentators find in playing out today’s parable in

Matthew, using it as a metaphor…all its pieces do not come together to create a whole indicative of the God Jesus teaches and so part of it are hard to hear and don’t add up. 

(This is the only gospel that includes this particular lesson.)  For instance, wise people

we would usually think would share given the golden rule …so the wise bridesmaids not sharing is a piece that doesn’t quite fit….although we know “rescuing” never really helps someone, it just postpones what may be inevitable unless they begin to do things differently.  And, Jesus teaches God never shuts anyone out…so why the door doesn’t open evenif they’ve come late and a dollar’s worth of oil short, doesn’t quite fit either…except to say that when we don’t act in ways that reflect the light of Christ within, we may not be recognizable to others, to our God.  
An unintended/unattended life of faith runs the risk of smothering or letting go out

the God-given flame within.  We, disciples, can be seduced by religious “highs”, particular teachings, even ministry and service, let alone the careers, busy schedules, justifications, materialism….other Gods as Joshua might say.  And as we tend to these, the life of faith dims through inattention.  
And even a quick “Oh, I know better.  I wouldn’t do that” as the people said to Joshua,

doesn’t cut it…because it takes more than words or good intentions…..cause you can’t play both ends against the middle, you can’t fool God even if you can fool yourself! 
You have to say what you mean and mean what you say…didn’t Michelle say that was one of the 11 things about Tippe she appreciated…that we strive for this!   
And it helps to have a few witnesses who will hold us…to the fire…let’s say,

into the light….to covenant with us for our own good and the greater good.
Tending to our faith—having trimmed wicks and plenty of oil…oil a symbol of God’s

presence with us as reflected in its use in anointing….tending to our faith means attending to the practices of faith that form and grow us into the faith of Christ…the ways of Christ.  Coming to worship, having your own but intentional version of a prayer life, taking time to be self-reflective and aware perhaps speaking with your pastor or a spiritual director, learning more about

God and Jesus and spirit and faith…reading or taking a Living Water class or retreat, seeing your body as a temple and caring for it/yourself the way the Divine Lover of Your Life

would have you be cared for, taking faith and moving it out of words to action…

these things are everything.  These are the ways of Jesus!
And in these fallow ways into which we lean now, we recognize that just beneath the surface

of life God is tending to new life.  …new life which will need your tending in order to grow…will need to be in the light in order to grow…the light of day…your daily routines, the light of faith…

what you believe not just what you say…the light of love…love being a verb!
Joshua and Jesus make it clear.  There is a seriousness in these texts that asks us

to take ultimate responsibility for our actions.  We are invited to some fairly straightforward self-examination.  And the first question I might ask myself is, “WHEN do I plan to prepare

for the holy realm I keep asking God to reveal?”  Since the only time any of us has NOW, now would seem to be the right time.  No one can help me get started, be prepared, but me.  
And then maybe the next question I ask myself is, “Do I seek to live in sustainable ways,

making the most of the resources I already have?  Or do I feel entitled to

take part of someone else’s resources to meet my own needs?”
As we proclaim the good news that God is tending to us regardless of the size of our

oil flask, the preparedness of our wicks, our motivation or staying power….as we proclaim

God cares, we always speak into a community of various experiences.  Each one hears in their own language!   Some of us who listen may have been part of a death or a birth this week. 

We may have lost a job or been hired after a long time of unemployment.  We may be on a honeymoon or taking a few minutes of respite from caring for a partner or parent.
I cannot, we cannot, know the wounds or joys that inhabit every heart, but I trust you/we will know that we are all held together in the great heart of the Holy One.
Ask for the help you need in tending to your light.  I cannot read your mind or know the circumstances of your week if you do not share them.  We cannot know what you do not express.  Don’t just go away, don’t go away mad.  Don’t just drift away or stay away or slip away. 

We have a covenant of care with each other….despite all else, we DO care.  Let us care. 

Let yourself care about….you!  …as you care about others as well.
We are invited to the banquet.  But you have to show up.  Be prepared.  Tend to the light. 

We do not know when Jesus will appear next in our lives, but only those who are

prepared to see Him will see Him.  Only those tending the light will be taken with

God and shine new possibilities into their day and importantly, into God’s world.