The Man of La Mancha

Don Quixote

Is the man from la Mancha. It is a wonderful story of a man seeking to be a great person.

A Knight in Shinning Armour, A hero, a person of substance.

Unfortunately he is simple minded and short sighted and gets into all sorts of situations that require assistance from his long suffering servant Sancho. The major problem that the Don has is that he sees windmills as giants and is always charging them with his lance from horseback.

The Man of La Mancha is a musical play and movie of the story of Don Quixote.

In the musical there is a song made famous as a hit by Frank Sinatra “ Ï did it my way” One of the verses is printed

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew But through it all, when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out I faced it all and I stood tall And did it my way

Listen to the song

We need to be careful as christian’s in what is commonly called a post christian world. It is our society that sets the norms and our laws are based on common good. The common good is expressed in the context of human behaviour as per our cultural setting, and although there is behind this the overarching shadow of the ten commandments that in its self does not make something good or not.

Slavery in the southern states of America was based on people believing the 10 commandments, likewise Apartheid in South Africa

Is there such an aspect as my way when it comes to faith

How do we differentiate between the will of God for us and the power of the world to distort our actions

Don Quixote despite all the events of his life still has a sense of pride that he did my way

Where do we fit Gods way into our lives

I do not know how you cope for me it is a real struggle.

Often my sense of imagination over what God can do is limited by ME

Gods way - is a way without fuss

It is simplicity personified. The eyes wide open of the child in anticipation of receiving Gods love and Grace

Lets look at three possibilities

In

Psalm 46:10 NIV

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The first and second possibilities are mixed together by their very nature

[1] Called to Stop

Above and beyond all the actions of showing our love, grace, compassion, we are called to stop

we are not called to be doer’s of things in the name of God We are called to be.

We are after all Human being’s not human doings

As Elijah discovered it was the still small voice of God that spoke out of the silence.

[2] Called to Worship

to worship. the ultimate form of worship is to be still and silent in his presence

Like most people i intermingle the words worship and praise in the context of what we do in church. It is more accurate to describe what we do here in church as community as a celebration of praise and thanksgiving rather than worship. Jesus used solitary time and space to worship the father in prayer

.

Mark 1:35 NIV

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

If you have not figured it out yet I am a talker - it is a typical preachers problem as I am always looking for a better way of saying something or ensuring that i get my point across. When I am travelling, or lying in bed before sleep i natter to god and probably write the best sermons that are never heard.

I am however aware that in this I find it hard to give God time to answer back

Stillness and worship are two important ingredients and the third aspect I wish to touch on this morning is the call

[3] Called to take up the Cross

What is it - this cross

NB We are called to take it up daily

We are called to offer ourselves - to believe that Gods plans are more important than mine

We look for satisfaction in seeking to follow God’s way

We speak the language of love and grace as much as we can

A famous Catholic theologian Thomas Merton put it this way [far better than I could]

Too many Christians are not free because they submit to the domination of other people’s idea’s.

They submit passively to the opinions of the crowd. For self- protection they hide in the crowd.

They are afraid of the aloneness, the moral nakedness which they would feel apart from the crowd

But Christians in whom Christ is risen dare to think and act differently from the crowd.

They have idea’s of their own, not because they are arrogant but because they have the humility to stand alone and pay attention to the purpose and grace of God, which are often quite contrary to the purposes and plans of the established human power structure.

Again perhaps we can thank Paul in .

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.