God loves us too much to leave us alone!

“I don’t know how many of you watch the ‘reality’ TV shows,” the priest began her sermon. The theme of the sermon was “God loves you too much to leave you alone,” based on the scriptures for the second Sunday in Lent. She envisioned Sarah and Abraham, from the first reading, as contestants on a reality show.

At 100 (Abraham) and 90 (Sarah) years of age, God promises them the birth of a child and tells them that their offspring will be as numerous as the stars. Sarah laughs at the very thought of enjoying pleasure with Abraham again. God tells them to name the child Isaac. He makes a covenant with them, promising that they will be the grandparents of Kings and multitudes. This is the passage, one of my personal favorites, which led me to use the name of “Sarah” for this blog. It is about a very old woman who gives birth at a very advanced age. “God loves us too much to leave us alone.” There are many ways of “giving birth.” Nearly all endeavors lead to something new coming forth and being “born.”

The sermon went on to other “contestants” and the phrase, repeated several times, that God loves us too much to leave us alone, evoked many thoughts. The first being laughter and that I wasn’t at all sure that I wanted God to get involved! I just want to be left alone to do my thing, which nowadays includes too much TV time and napping. The last time I felt called by God to do something, led to a great disappointment and being told that I was “too old.” I haven’t yet resolved completely my profound sense of loss. Then two and a half years ago I had a stroke, reminding me that I am not in control.

I may not ever be called to do anything memorable. Perhaps God is calling me to do the best I can do in the circumstances in which I find myself. Perhaps God will continue to nudge me and perhaps I will continue to respond, “Who do you think you’re nudging?” But I think that the Reverend Karen Ann Campbell is right. God loves me too much to leave me alone.

I grow old, ever learning many things.

Solon