Only One Way Left

The tone of this email is a little different than some of my recent posts and for good reason. The New York Times posted an article a few minutes ago that reads in part, “The first cases of the coronavirus were reported in the United States just a month ago. On Thursday, the stunning scope of the economic disaster became clearer as the Labor Department reported the loss of 10 million jobs in just two weeks. Wall Street has seemingly imploded, and the global economy has shuddered in the shadow of the pandemic reaching into every country.”

My heart sank yesterday when our daughter Liesle, a mother of two, called Kay and said, “Mom, I just lost my job.” Liesle is a devoted mother and a hard worker, a good provider. Now her world has been turned upside down like it has for other moms and dads, all hard workers and good providers. I imagine a number of similar phone calls have been made in recent weeks. As I have visited with folks who have encountered similar circumstances and tried to offer words of comfort and hope, the crisis has now come to the Keeler door step. Everywhere I go, there is this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. It is the same feeling I had following my discharge from the Navy in the summer of 1976. Having returned to Florida to complete work for my undergraduate degree, I criss-crossed small town USA looking for a job. For several weeks I was told that I was either overqualified or underqualified. I couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of desperation. Married with a one year old daughter, what was I going to do? Fortunately, I was eventually made an offer, quickly accepted and went to work. By way of that experience, I learned the lesson of trusting God more instead of myself. As a Christian, I also learned the importance of showing compassion for those of special need and care. Sometimes without warning and from no fault of our own, the tide of life turns against us and hits us like a hammer.

Alone in my study this afternoon, I stumbled across a book titled “Only One Way Left” written by the Rev. Dr. George MacLeod from the Church of Scotland. MacLeod believed that it is impossible for Christians and also the church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Gospel without getting our hands dirty. He also argued that we who are a part of the human family today cannot live independently, separated from one another. Instead, we must learn that life is more meaningful when people, all of us, learn how to listen, respect and work side-by-side in a common effort for the sake of Christ and for the glory of God.

I gather that MacLeod was very much influenced by the theology of Paul as it gives expression about what it means to be a follower of Christ, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15) Paul also stated, “If one of us suffers, we all suffer together and when one of us is honored, all rejoice.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

What some may believe is a personal infatuation with MacLeod is no infatuation at all. It is respect for a person who talked the walk, and walked the talk. As I admire people like Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jurgen Moltmann, Hans Kung, Henri Nouwen and Eugene Peterson, I also admire MacLeod and there is another good reason why. MacLeod was born into a well-educated, wealthy and privileged family and he had many avenues he could have pursued in order to enjoy a successful career. He was truly a gifted person, but instead he heard the call of Christ to parish ministry. He served as an associate pastor at St. Giles in Edinburgh along with the Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, regarded as the Church of Castle, when he accepted a call to the Old Govan Church in Glasgow.This was a startling move because the Old Govan Church stood near the shipyard, which in previous years had met with great financial success. MacLeod went to work among the parishioners of Govan during the depression, when ship-building had come to a halt. What MacLeod did was to involve the church in providing ministry to the men, women and children who lived nearby. The doors of the church were open to not only the well-to-do, but also the unemployed and the poor in order that the ministry of the church might lift their spirits and give them hope.

This is one of the reasons MacLeod left Glasgow in 1938 to travel to the island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland with a handful of seminary graduates and unemployed carpenters, brickmasons, electricians and plumbers. The effort of rebuilding the old Abbey brought people together as they learned how to utilize and share their gifts for a common purpose.

When the second church group from Sea Island traveled to Scotland in the summer of 2018, we enjoyed the opportunity of visiting the Old Govan Church where MacLeod preached and served the people of the shipyard. Sadly, we learned, the church had been closed by the presbytery. Demographics have changed. Centers of population have migrated to other areas of Glasgow. The caretaker of the church campus invited Kay to play the pipe organ. As she played some of the great hymns of the church, pews empty, I asked for permission to climb the steps that led to the pulpit from where MacLeod preached. Standing in the pulpit and looking down at the empty pews, listening to the organ music, observing pilgrims from Sea Island exploring the majesty of the old sanctuary, now a landmark of better days past, something happened. I heard the Rev. Dr. George MacLeod preaching to the congregation and in the voice of Macleod I heard the voice of Jesus, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” (from the Sermon on the Mount)

Do you know what Jesus was saying? Blessed are the people who know they live and stand in the need of Almighty God. I say again, I am NOT a Christian because I need a crutch. I am a Christian because I live and stand in need of the One who knows who we are and where we are, the One who cares for us and loves us as our Redeemer, Savior, Lord and Friend. Pointing to Jesus Christ, preach Reverend MacLeod, we hear you and we’re listening! Preach Jesus and help us for we are very much in need of your help, support, encouragement and hope.

As our time together comes to an end, may the living Christ surround you with his tender mercy. Stay safe! Stay well! Call if you need me. We’re in this together. In Christ +
—
Steve Keeler, Pastor