Epiphany Sunday Watchword: Resilience

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
(look these up at biblegateway.com or bible.oremus.org)

Each Epiphany Sunday, our congregation distributes paper cutouts of stars with a 'watchword' for the coming year.  These words are often a character trait or virtue to reflect on throughout the year.  A few speakers volunteer each year to give a brief reflection on what their star has meant to them during the previous year.  This year, the sharing was even more poignant, as we continue to worship off-site while our building is under reconstruction due to flood damage from a burst pipe.

Friends, I might not have volunteered to speak about my word this year, except that given the circumstances our congregation has faced in recent weeks, it seemed so especially appropriate:

Resilience.

Last year when I drew this star, I left it in the shelf of the pulpit, and I have seen it there each week as I've stood to lead worship and preach, with its little reminder throughout thick and thin.  It was there right up until the flood when we had to pack everything away for cleanup and reconstruction to begin.

But before I got up to speak today, I thought I'd better look up the proper definition, and it is:  "the ability to bounce back after adversity or tragedy."

For some people this seems to come naturally, but for most of us, this is learned...through adversity or tragedy.

I also found an article online, "10 Ways To Become More Resilient", which had some pretty good advice about how to do so, and it was also quite fitting for our situation.  In that light, let me share a summary:

1.  Believe in yourself, not out of denial of the problem, but with loving acceptance of everything you are.
2.  Have a sense of purpose.  Find some way to bring something meaningful and positive out of this struggle.
3.  Maintain a strong network of friends to help you keep going even when you get discouraged.
4.  Embrace change.  Those who can be flexible and adapt are more likely to thrive.  Branch out in new directions, even in directions you never thought of before.
5.  Maintain a hopeful outlook. Realize that setbacks are only temporary.
6.  Nurture yourself:  don't forget to eat, sleep, exercise, and nourish your spirit (I might add, pray!)
7.  Develop problem-solving skills.
8.  Establish goals.  It will give you something to help you look, and move, forward.
9.  Don't avoid your problems, but take steps to address them proactively.
10.  Keep building healthy coping skills--you may need them again in the future.

It occurred to me that the wise men must have been very resilient, given the adversity they overcame, traveling across the desert, guided only by a star, running into a political entanglement they hadn't expected, and returning home by another road.  In fact, I've crossed that same desert between Bethlehem and Persia in my former life as a human rights worker, and I know how very difficult the journey is.  However, we had nice new climate-controlled Suburbans, and they had...camels.  In the heat of day, the cold of night, and believe it or not, the rain.  But they made the journey nevertheless, and returned home again.

I thought about my own life, and where I have encountered adversity.  A few years ago in our previous church, we discovered that they hadn't been fully forthcoming with us about their financial situation, and could not afford to pay us.  In fact, in the same week we received the much-hoped-for news that we would be parents again, we also received the news that we were about to be jobless and maybe even homeless.

I won't lie to you.  It was an enormous strain on our family and marriage. And it took an incredible amount of work to ensure our family's survival.  But six months later, in record time for a pastoral call search, we arrived here, to this church, and have sojourned with you a little while, and Sam and Maya were both born healthy and safe.

Now, I have no crystal ball hidden away in my office and I do not know the future any more than anyone here, except that I know from here, we begin again.  The future of this congregation is not lost on the whim of the wind, but is placed in our ability to make decisions and work together, to come back stronger than ever before.  During this time, we must reach out and get help we need from our friends and neighbors around us, to become as vibrant a ministry in this community as ever.

And in all that we do, no matter what we face, God is with us.  The Holy Spirit will guide us.  Now, let's get to work, for we have much to do!  Amen.

Prayers This Week:

--for all who lack shelter from the severe winter weather, especially the cold
--for all who are traveling, that they may be safe
--for all who may lose unemployment benefits
--for all in need of healing, in body, mind, and soul
--for all young people graduating this season and beginning a new chapter in their lives
--for our congregation, as we continue to sojourn away from our church home.