More than a scurryfunge of the soul

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When I was a kid there was a stretch on the road heading south from Hawkes Bay that I always used to look forward to - just before you reached Norsewood there was an amazing hill that came out of nowhere - and my brother and I used to beg dad to drive as fast as he could over it - it was one of those ones where if you went fast enough it felt like you were flying briefly - then had that glorious moment where it felt like your stomach was falling out as you came back down. It was so much fun! We didn’t go that way very often - but I still remember the day we drove down and discovered that the hill had gone. Well, the hill hadn’t gone - but some scallywag had cut right through the hill, so the road was suddenly boringly flat and safe.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low - the gospel of NZTA.
And I still remember trying to navigate around England with Rebecca before smartphones were a thing - and one roundabout in particular that I ended up doing three trips around as we worked out which was the correct motorway onramp we were aiming for. Ah, the good old days.
Now of course when we travel somewhere, the default is to pop our destination into Google Maps and let ourselves be guided - and even be told to the minute what time we’re going to arrive. It’s so convenient.
But it does make me wonder whether the ease of transport for our generation makes us lose sight of, or not fully understand, the implications of John’s cry as he quoted from the prophet Isaiah.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. It’s not just a walk up Newlands Road where you might feel a little puffed - it’s a cross country hike that needs to be smoothed out.
I know I’ve shared this before - but one of my favourite words is scurryfunge. Can anyone remember what it means?
(to madly / frantically dash about the house in an effort to tidy up just before guests arrive.)
Let’s be honest - isn’t that the temptation for us as we journey through Advent? It’s the Church New Year resolution - have a scurryfunge of the soul - a panicked deep dive into the murky corners of our lives - as we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth and wait for him to come again. It’s the time of year when we become hyper aware of the need to offer hospitality, to share with those in need, and maybe even to be a bit more bold in outing ourselves as followers of Christ.
Now, don’t get me wrong - there is nothing inherently wrong with this - but can I encourage you to scratch a little bit deeper as you scurryfunge, and check your motivations and your heart? Would we, as a community of faith, receive the same kind of letter that Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi?
One commentator describes this section of Philippians as a love letter - and it’s such a great description. It’s agape love at it’s fullest. Let’s dig into a bit.
Philippians 1:3–5 NRSV
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.
I must admit that every time I’ve read this passage I’ve somehow read it that Paul is joyful because of their sharing of the gospel. But that’s not what it says - it’s sharing in the gospel. It’s not just sharing the good news.
Actually a better translation is participation in the gospel. So what do you think he means? What does it mean to participate in the gospel?
generosity
love
healing / miracles
prayer + listening to God
sharing the good news
(possibly their financial support of Paul….!)
And this is Paul’s prayer:
that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best.
Next question - how do we go about getting more knowledge and full insight to help us determine what is best?
Praying and listening to God. Because the best is always going to be the will of God.
Psalm 127:1 (NRSV)
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.
We’ve got a small team here at St Mike’s who take turns in heading up to the Batchelor St flats in pairs every week, and we meet once a month to learn, to share what we’re noticing, and to pray together. A few months ago we were feeling at a bit of a loss as to what our call was as various dynamics have shifted around the flats, and we all sensed the nudge that we needed to pray in a sacrificial way. So we committed to praying every week - taking two hour shifts and coming to the prayer room and praying overnight. It’s something I deeply loved when I was running the Prayer Ambulance, but for the past few years it’s fallen out of my repertoire. And it is so good to be back in this space - I love the early hours of the morning, and the time just flies by. But the thing is, and I shouldn’t be surprised by this, but God has been speaking, we’ve been responding, and things are shifting. We’re not just praying for Batchelor St - we’re praying as God prompts us for St Mike’s, and the suburb that we’re placed in and called to love.
A few weeks ago we used the exercise that I shared in the newsletter - imagining that Jesus was arriving in Newlands on the bus for the day, and seeing what we wanted to show him - but more importantly what he wanted to show us. And we had a sense that Jesus wanted to open our eyes to a lot of things!
One thing that struck me was a sense of darkness over one particular location in Newlands that I’d not really paid much attention to before. I shared this with one of the others without any real details - and he had been noticing this as well, and was able to point to exactly the same location that I’d been sensing - and then Rebecca also named the exact same location. We’re not sure what the answer is - but for now our eyes have been opened to this darkness, so we’re praying love and light over it. It’s pretty cool.
As a side note, if you’d like to join us in our prayer vigils then have a chat with me and I’ll talk you through what it’s all about.
The point is though, that for our love to overflow with knowledge and full insight to determine what is best we have to turn to Jesus again and again and again. What is on his heart? Where is he already at work? How can we partner with him?
Paul has told us what his prayer for the Philippians is (and for us….!) - but he then goes on to tell us why it is his prayer.
Philippians 1:10–11 (NRSV)
so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
The harvest of righteousness has many different hyperlinks bouncing off it - but what’s the main one it makes you think of?
John 15:5 NRSV
I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
So this Advent, let John the Baptist’s words (OK, Isaiah’s words) ring in your ears. Prepare the way of the Lord. Don’t just have a quick scurryfunge - commit to abiding in Jesus - resting with him, listening to him, and learning from him.
Prepare the way of the Lord in your heart that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and insight. Let us be known by the way we love - by the way we love God, each other, and every single person and place in Newlands-Paparārangi.
Amen.
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