1 Samuel 8:4-11; 16-18a; June 9, 2024; Third Sunday after Pentecost
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.
LOST is one of the greatest shows ever made for Television.
Its best episode, no doubt, is called “The Constant.” There can be no argument, and I will hear none. It was and is objectively great.
But don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you. But let me just say that it was LOST at its best. An emotional rollercoaster put to a great soundtrack, with good acting, thrown down a philosophical and sci-fi wormhole.
Its plot being (devoid of obvious spoilers): that when things feel like they are slipping away and spinning out of control, where the everyday variables of life feel too much to bear, such that you can’t tell up from down and real from fake… your “constant” will emerge and bring you back to center. A voice on the other line saying I love you repeatedly, from a person who has always remained by your side, even when life has failed you, even when others have rejected you.
My friends… tell me that’s not great. Tell me that’s not beautiful!
Better yet, tell me that’s not Biblical.
A voice on the other line that says I love you repeatedly, who will always remain by your side, even when life and others haven’t.
You, see?
I told you.
LOST is great.
It’s settled.
And also, it echoes what we read and hear in the life of our prophet Samuel.
If you can remember all the way back to two weeks ago, our lectionary text featured Samuel as a young boy hearing God calling him, and then running three times to answer his charge. Do you remember that?
Well, this week we find Sameul now quite aged, even though it’s only five chapters later.
One might say then that the call on his life that he ran to, has run him straight into the ground. Which, others might say, sounds a bit like the call of a pastor… especially as Samuel’s congregation is basically saying to him, “if you’re not effective in leading your own kids and family in the way of the Lord, then why in the heck should we continue to listen to you?”
“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel and said to him, ‘You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a new king to govern us, like other nations.’ And this displeased Samuel.” — 1 Samuel 8:4-6
But more than just Samuel, the people are also saying that they were done listening to God and were in want and search for something entirely different. A new and shiny overlord to lead them.
And God complains at this, saying to Samuel: “Just as they are… forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you.” — 1 Samuel 8:8
The people, you see, wanted a variable in the equation. A change in scenery. And they think that this difference will be better for them in the end. But what will they find out? Samuel tells them:
“He [this new king] will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day, you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves.” — 1 Samuel 8:17-18a
All of this proving the inversion of the cliché true: that sometimes the grass ain’t greener on that other side. Sometimes what you have already is not only good enough, but right enough. For the constant that’s been there from the start is often all that you’ll ever need.
—–
Now as most of you know I just got back from a trip to Disney with my son a couple of weeks ago. And ever since, I’ve been obsessed. I’m on all the forums, reading and reviewing rides and resorts. And Joel tried to tell me that I would love it. And I didn’t believe him, because I’m an idiot.
Well, anyway, that confession now made, I’ve recently been most interested in their newest ride called “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” It’s in the Magic Kingdom. It was recently known as “Splash Mountain,” but Disney decided they wanted a refresh and for a good reason or two; and so, they have been working on getting Tiana ready for the last year and change.
And even though Seth and I were unable to ride it, I must say that the change we saw from the outside looked quite pretty. Gone were the thorns, the briar patch, and mountain browns, and in were lush trees, ponds, and greenery.
Unfortunately, early reviews of the ride – it has since opened – have been overwhelmingly negative. Saying that though it all looks very pretty and green – it is true — it has way too many empty scenes on the inside, and that the story sort of feels hallowed out. Once more proving the point that the grass isn’t always greener, even when it literally is.
Now, I’m not saying they made a mistake. Nor am I defending “Song of the South” — the source material for Splash Mountain. You know me better than that. In fact, I think it’s good that Disney switched it to Tiana. It’s just that ironically, her story (or lack thereof) is replacing Br’er Rabbit’s story, which preached exactly what we’re talking about today.
Anyone here ever go on Splash Mountain? Do you remember Br’er Rabbit’s story that they were telling on that ride? Well, if you do or you don’t, it goes like this:
Br’er Rabbit had a nice home, full of critters, animals, and music. But Br’er Rabbit, like most of us, eventually grew bored of it and wanted to get away. To experience something more. Something new.
And so, he leaves on a journey away from home, full of excitement, hope and wonder. But soon thereafter he realizes that life outside the nest can be sort of rough, and as such, he encounters all sorts of dangers and evil new overlords. Dark vultures, angry foxes, and huge bears, and a laughing place that isn’t too comedic after all.
And as you near the end of the ride, and consequently down the plume of his scary adventure, he makes it both loud and known that basically Samuel was right… that what he had previously wasn’t so bad, and that it was actually pretty great.
For in truth, there really is no place like home, with all of its known critters and all of its known songs, and where there exists a familiar voice on the other line ready to sing, “zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-day; my, oh my, what a wonderful day.”
Now, again, none of this is meant to defend the roots of that song (though it is catchy and rather jubilant), nor is it meant to say that we should never leave the nest, that the world out there is too scary to explore and find some new and greater meaning in. No, I’m not saying that at all. For often there is, greater meaning, when we find our own path, and sometimes in spades… and… it’s always better to escape “home” when the people back there are acting more like masters than family…
But, what I am also saying is this: that when the changes of life come – and they will — and the conditions and variables prove unfavorable to you, such that it all feels too much to bear like a fox is out to get ya; where you find yourself feeling alone, rejected and confused, unable to tell up from down, and real from fake; where it all just feels like it’s spinning right away, with a set of vultures hovering above trying to enslave you… let you remember that you have a Constant in your Heavenly home who has ever remained by your side; and, who is always trying to liberate you and bring you back to center by singing on the other line: “I love you, I love you” repeatedly “I love you.”
My friends, go home and watch LOST.
But also, thanks be to God.
Amen
