December 20, 2009
Pastor Caroline Satre
Luke 1:39-56

Singing a Glad Song

A week ago today I did something out of character for me. I made a decision entirely with my heart that should have also involved my head. You'll be glad to know it had nothing to do with St. Paul's; this was an entirely personal choice. You see, along with my work, a house, a toddler, and two cats, I... we... got a dog. He is lovely dog... little... already trained... good with kids... what could go wrong, right?

By the way I've just set things up you know that this story is going to unfold like the plot of any Hollywood flick. What seems good in the beginning will soon be fraught with all manner of unexpected twists and turns-leading to a good measure of both trauma and hilarity, depending, of course, on how you look at it. Like the main character in many stories and movies of this genre, I didn't even see it coming. Call me crazy, but I really didn't expect to pull a traumatized cat off the top of the cabinets in the laundry room, off the top of the bathroom door (I had to circle the house three times to find him there) and out of the drop ceiling in the basement. As you might imagine, our house this week was strangely similar to a scene from Christmas Vacation or, better yet, Christmas with the Kranks.

Not that either of those holiday movies is our Christmas Classic for today. Oh, no, this close to Christmas it's time for a classic among classics. It's time for my favorite holiday movie... the forever meaningful saga of George Bailey discovering that it is indeed a wonderful life. Of course, it takes the whole movie for George to discover that great truth, because like any classic tale what looks good in the beginning will soon be fraught with all manner of unexpected twists and turns--leading to a good measure of both trauma and hilarity, depending, of course, on how you look at it. Like I, George never even saw it coming. Take a look. (Clip of George meeting Clarence, his guardian angel.)

I don't imagine the angel that visited Mary looked much like Clarence, but I do imagine that Mary felt a bit like George Bailey. Things were going well... she was engaged to a good man. That's when things get interesting. An angel visits her, tells her that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit, that her cousin, Elizabeth (who was thought to be barren) is expecting, too, and that Mary's child will be "called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David" (Luke 1:32). There you have it... all manner of unexpected twists and turns--leading to a good measure of both trauma and hilarity, depending, of course, on how you look at it.

Personally, I have always found Mary to be both human/approachable as well as inspirational. I know I think like a Protestant and not a Roman Catholic, but I feel a certain kinship with her. Of course, the twists and turns in Mary's story are much different than in the movies or in our lives, but the fact that she doesn't see any of this coming... she's going on about her business when suddenly things are turned upside down...that part sounds familiar, doesn't it? That is what makes Mary real to me... human... in a way that I feel a certain kinship with her. What makes Mary truly inspirational to me is that, in spite of the shock of it all... in spite of the headache and heartache all this will cause... what does Mary do? Luke's Gospel tells us that she sings a glad song. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me" (Luke 1:46b-48).

Of course, there's no way that, in this moment, Mary could anticipate all the ways the chips would be down in years to come... but for now... and again at the Easter end... there is a tune to be hummed... a glad psalm to be read... a song of celebration to be sung.

This is what I find so attractive and inspirational about all these stories today. They remind us that, in spite of all manner of unexpected twists and turns in our lives-leading to a good measure of both trauma and hilarity, depending on how you look at it... in spite of all the times that the chips will be down for all of us in the years to come... for now and again at OUR Easter end... there is a tune to be hummed... a glad psalm to be read... a song of celebration to be sung. (Clip of the end of It's a Wonderful Life)

As for our decision made by the heart and not the head, well, it has a happy ending, too. After gracing our lives for a week, Chewey the dog went to a home with no cats and a 10-year-old girl who will love him like there's no tomorrow. Our cat, Elmo, came out of the rafters.

I'm sure I'll make more heartfelt but not so smart decisions in the years to come. There's really no way to avoid the unexpected twists and turns that life tends to bring...no way to fully anticipate all the ways the chips will be down in the years to come. But in spite of it all, it is indeed a wonderful life. So along with George Bailey and Mary and all the saints throughout the ages, we, too, sing a glad song.

Gracious God, in the midst of all the headache and heartache that life tends to bring, help us to remember that, because of your story and our Easter end, there is always reason to rejoice and be glad. Even on the difficult days, put a bounce in our step, a twinkle in our eye, and a glad song in our heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church § 824 N. Lewis § Waukegan IL