What I did on my summer vacation — AKA There’s no place like home

A sermon for the Anglican Congregation in Summerland, BC
Sunday, July 21, 2024 // The Very Rev. Ken Gray

The idea was so simple. In exchange for presiding and preaching at Holy Eucharist for just two Sundays at the Church of the Nativity, Sandy Cove, Nova Scotia we would receive rectory accommodation at no cost to us for two weeks. What a great deal. Looking for a break from our usual South Okanagan routines, we agreed and made careful plans. Things went swimmingly well, until:

1. Westjet mechanics initially threatened and then actually went on strike; a settlement was eventually reached and the airline returned in time to a normal schedule, just in time for our travel to Halifax;
2. Prior to departure, I fell for an online scam which rendered our credit cards useless; a new card was promised to be in our hands prior to travel, a commitment not realized; try travelling without a valid credit card these days; awkward to say the least; note to self—carry more than one card while travelling—additional cards now in hand;
3. Just try to rent a car without a valid card linked to the driver, and only in-person; cash or debit cards not acceptable (unless you are American?; Huh?); Trump’ll fix this;
4. We attempted to establish credit another way; total failure; there’s a sermon in here—we are wealthy, but just can’t access our net worth; first-world problem;
5. Halifax is an ocean port; that means fog, lots of fog, lasting days, broken only by torrential downpours, a residue from Hurricane Beryl; not a great time to be without a car;
6. Eventually arriving at Sandy Cove, we discovered a scheduling error; not our mistake, but theirs; we were now down to only one Sunday service commitment;
7. And the fog kept rolling in, followed by heavy rain served up by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl; we were assured the fog would clear by Monday; we planned to depart Tuesday;
8. Whale watching tour aborted due to above mentioned weather; Westport is a lovely community however, though we picked the wrong place to eat lunch;
9. Flooding just north of our location claimed the life of one youth as Wolfville and other points in the Annapolis Valley suffered flash flooding;
10. Church service itself was a lot of fun; tremendous singing, and an unusual experience presiding facing east (away from the congregation) looking out the window;
11. Making our way home through Halifax and Calgary; men’s room urinals in both airports non-functional; long line-ups, just like the ladies (I am told);
12. Arrived in Kelowna as HWY 97 closed due to wildfire; Son, Cameron took long way to collect us; then returned the normal way except for a 45 minute delay at Peachland;

As Dorothy says in her closing lines from the Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home. I often say that the best thing about holiday travel is realizing how good things really are back home. Obviously this is not true for everyone, but it sure is for me.

If the above is my travelogue, today’s gospel is a Jesus travelogue. Through the early chapters of Mark’s gospel, he is crossing back and forth between two sides of the Sea of Galilee. Two natural environments, two peoples and cultures, both connected through the physical presence and reconciling love of Jesus as Mark imagines it. If the story includes logistical detail, it likewise demonstrates a life process. Today’s message is a testament to reconciliation. Crossings, common experience, and boundaries are important in both the present and ancient world. In the US, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump attempt in their own way to speak to a united America. Good luck! Politics there, and frankly here, are as fragile, and as divided as ever. One does wonder who if anyone can manage to cross over effectively and graciously right now.

Beyond our intra-personal relationships, we are increasingly alienated from creation. For too long we have understood creation as a resource for humans, a God-created and given earth which feeds humanity in all respects. You would think we could see the value of preserving and protecting this gracious gift. Yet we have exploited it, abused it, taken more than a reasonable share of its bounty avariciously and unrelentingly. Far too many persons, organizations, corporations, governments, special interest groups of all persuasions continue to demand more wealth, more resources, privileged livelihoods,  and beauty, all for selfish uses.

While travelling I have spent a lot of time reflecting on a book titled We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope. Retired Indigenous bishop Steven Charleston Invites us who today struggle to find hope and inspiration in this time of climate crisis, a time of quickly shifting political structures, all in an age increasingly infiltrated by technology, “intelligent” or otherwise, at the expense of spirit and love. Charleston introduces readers to four prophets from the American Indigenous tradition including Smohalla (born c.1815 or 1820, Upper Columbia River, a North American Indian prophet, preacher, and teacher. He founded a religious cult, the Dreamers, that emphasized traditional Native American values. Smohalla drew extensively on The Washani creed which asserts that the earth, the people, and God are in a covenant with one another.

The Washani creed is the belief in a single Creator who created a single life. That single life is the earth. The earth is a single living being in relationship with her maker. As human beings, we are only a small part of the total life of the earth, but we are special—chosen, you might say—because we have the self-awareness to be one step removed from the earth. We can step to one side spiritually or intellectually, and observe the other two parts of the triangle. We can relate to the Creator. We can relate to the earth. And the nature of those relationships is what we can describe as the Washani covenant.

Simple message: the earth is our partner as with the African concept of Ubuntu, we are more whole with and through each other. As the Bay of Fundy tides ebb and flow, as high water and low water are part of a single marine system, may we find ways to mend our relationship with creation, to appreciate that each of the seven days of creation is as important and as much of a gift as the other. As Jesus took his disciples to a quiet place, may we all re-discover that “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isa 30:15).

In previous sermons I introduced special music as I brought my thoughts to a close; today is no exception. Penned by Jon Guerra, Slow Me Down is a beautiful anthem of praise rooted in the challenges we face today. The text is printed on today’s worship notes sheet.* Enjoy.

O good shepherd, would you teach me how to rest
I’m rushing on, will you make me to lie down
Will you build a fold by the waters that refresh
Will you call my name and lead me safely out?

Verse 2
From my anxious drive to labor on and on
From the restless grind that has put my mind to sleep

Pre-Chorus
Will you call me back and gently slow me down
Will you show me now what to lose and what to keep

Chorus
O Good Shepherd, O Good friend slow me down.
O Good Shepherd, O Good friend slow me down.

Verse 3
When my table’s bent with only greed and gold
And my grasping hands are afraid you won’t provide

Verse 4
On the busy streets trying to make myself a name
If the work is yours, there is nothing I can claim
Will you lead home to the pastures of your peace
The house is yours, I’m sitting at your feet

Chorus
O Good Shepherd, O Good friend slow me down.
O Good Shepherd, O Good friend slow me down.

*The Porter’s Gate is a sacred ecumenical arts collective reimagining and recreating worship that welcomes, reflects and impacts both the community and the church. The group was founded in 2017 by Isaac and Megan Wardell with a mission to be a “porter” for the Christian Church – one who looks beyond church doors for guests to welcome. It started as a group of 50-plus songwriters, musicians, scholars, pastors and music industry professionals from a variety of worship traditions and cultural backgrounds who gathered to discuss challenges in the church and write songs in response.