August 17, 2008 Luke 12:27-31
Rev. 21:1-4
“The Magic Kingdom”
Before we talk about the Magic Kingdom, I want to thank everyone for your presence last week. In particular, many thanks to Phyllis Sweet for the flowers and Adrienne Guptill for overseeing the communion service on our first ever Sunday to host a guest preacher.
Speaking of which, I want to acknowledge my appreciation to Nelson Murphy for leading our congregation in worship. As I indicated two weeks ago, I clearly suggested to him that his message was to be a short one and so I trust his sermon was less than 15 minutes. Correct?
So, as many of you know, Diane, our grandson, Austin, and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Disney World. We were at the French Quarter Resort in Port Orleans and for six days, explored the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Typhoon Lagoon. My O my what a trip it was! I had no idea how huge Disney World is and I had no idea of the scope of the levels of enjoyment and thrill one could experience!
The fireworks at Epcot at 9:00 p.m. were just terrific, the two rides we took on the Test Track were exciting, while Mission Space lived up to its reputation although Austin and I did opt for the less intense ride-that would be the green team. Then there was the five story straight shot down Humunga Kowabung, a water slide at Typhoon Lagoon. After two 40 mph slides down, I suggested to Austin that he was ready to go it on his own! Besides, the stairs back up were suggesting that my daily routine on the treadmill was not sufficient for this rigorous climb!
Now, if that wasn’t enough there was the crush n’ gusher. Austin and I as a team got crushed and gushed seven times at Typhoon Lagoon. There was no line early in the morning, so why not just keep the crushing and gushing going! After all, that too was only a five-story climb!
In the meanwhile, Diane had her moments as well: with much enthusiasm and courage she endured the trauma of a twenty minute slow and relaxing float all around Typhoon Lagoon on a tube. Her bravery really shined, but her crowning moment was when she actually agreed to tackle with Austin those daunting tea cups! Throwing caution to the wind, she lead Austin by hand to one of the much feared tea cups that have been plaguing toddlers every since Disney World opened!
As for me, there were still more challenges ahead. Test Track, twice, Mission Space, Two five-story slides or should I say drops down Humunga Kowabunga, seven exhilarating rides down the Crush n’ Gusher-all that was mere warm up! Next to come was a frenetic trip back to the time of dinosaurs. Now folks, I need to tell you that my brain kept saying “these things are not real so take it easy,” but I have to tell you that my adrenaline gland was ignoring the message! These dinosaurs looked real and they were mean, and did I mention that they were chasing us! Wonderful! Let’s get out of here!
Was there more? Of course! All things are possible in the Magic Kingdom and so it was on to Expedition Everest. This is a roller coaster that goes very high and then as it starts to come down it runs into a slight problem: Mr. Yeti has destroyed the track at which point the cars are sent into reverse, very fast, in the dark for so long that I thought the very pits of SHEOL were above us when we finally and mercifully came to a stop!
Lastly, the Rock n’ Roller Coaster done to the tunes of Aerosmith. Just your normal roller coaster that goes upside down at high speeds, in the dark, and did I mention that at the very beginning of the ride, you have the thrill of achieving 60 miles an hour in 2.8 seconds.
Well, folks, there was more and, in fact, we had an amazing time in Disney’s Magic Kingdom and as we were doing so I actually did make a couple of observations: everyone is welcome there no matter who they are or where they are in life’s journey. It was international village every day. I can’t tell you how many different languages I heard. People of all cultures and traditions. Infants, toddlers, teens with tattoos, folks with canes, folks in wheelchairs, folks with missing limbs, folks with “Make a Wish” buttons. A splendid mix of humanity and I thought to myself: this must be what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. And for the most part, everyone was smiling!
I also thought about one of Disney’s best known songs, “When You Wish Upon a Star” written in 1940 for the move Pinnochio. In some ways, touches the soul the same way “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” does. You will remember these 1939 lyrics by EH Harburg: “When all the clouds darken up the skyway There’s a rainbow highway to be found Leading from your window pane To a place behind the sun Just a step beyond the rain.”
What these songs tap into is a fundamental yearning within the core of humanity to know that ultimately there is a place for us where we will be both welcomed and accepted, where to reference another great song, it will be “well with my soul.”
When we hear of Jesus speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven such as in today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke, there is certainly a profound sense of hope. Jesus tells us to keep the faith, not to worry, and know that God is attentive to our needs and that God’s kingdom awaits our seeking. It’s the same theme of Revelations addressing a “new heaven and a new earth.” Here we catch glimpses of things yet to come which are indescribable. We are lead to believe that, in fact, our dreams will come true, only the deep dreams are fulfilled not because of Fate as suggested by Disney World, but by a loving and caring God.
The dilemma in speaking today of the Kingdom of God is that we really don’t know how to relate to the image. As Brian McLaren (“Seasons of the Spirit”) reminds us: “if we speak of the Kingdom of God today, the original electricity is largely gone…in our world, kingdoms have given way to republics, democracies, and democratic republics. “ He goes on to suggest that kingdom language evokes, “patriarchy, chauvinism, imperialism, domination and a regime without freedom” putting the concept at odds with what we really envision the kingdom of God to be.
So, in an age very different from that of the First Century, we look for other ways to identify what God plans for us and the world. McLaren rightfully says that there is a whole host of ways to go with this. We certainly cannot consider them all this morning, but the one that best fits today is the recognition that the word “will” in Greek can be translated “wish.” The Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” could be interpreted as, “May all your dreams for your creation come true.” Thus, in so praying, “Thy kingdom come” we are really asking God to help us make His dreams for us, come true.”
As Christians our charge is to live our lives the way “God dreams for us to live.”
(McLaren)
Two thousand years after Jesus walked the roads of Galilee, the world is a very different place and as a resident of earth at that time, Jesus used language appropriate to the setting. While riding a bus back to the resort hotel after a long day at the magic kingdom, Austin reminded me that people used to think that the world was flat. We, of course, now know much better and with the incredible pictures coming to us from the Hubble Space telescope, we also realize that God’s creation is far more expansive than we ever imagined. The metaphors used in the days of Jesus don’t make sense to us. The language of the Bible is antiquated. Kingdoms really are for fairy tales. But, the wish to be in a better place, the yearning to find affirmation, peace and justice are still within us and more than that, God’s wonderful wishes for us promise of extraordinary days to come.
We all then continue on our journeys, our quests, our search for fulfillment and the pursuit of our dreams as God continues to dream for us and hopes that we find our way home.
AMEN
