Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.
What is it you wish for? It’s a simple question that can take us in so many directions. Would we even know what to wish for if we had Aladdin’s Lamp? Or met a genie in a bottle? One day Ole, Lena & Sven were stranded on a desert island when a bottle washed up to shore. When Ole uncorked it, out popped a genie: “I will give you each one wish!” Lena said, “I vish I vere back at the cabin by the fire wit a nice book and some hot cocoa.” Poof, she was gone. Sven said, “I vish I vere up at Mille Lacs Lake with a big walleye on the line.” Poof, he was gone. The genie said, “Ole, what is your wish?” Ole wrung his hands nervously and said, “Oh, I can’t tink of anyting! I yust vish Lena & Sven were here to help me figure dis out! Poof!! The moral of the story is: be careful what you wish for. Sure, anyone can wish for a cozy fire, or a walleye on the line; but those wishes only serve the SELF. Jesus calls us to something more – and we’d better think it over – or even better, ask a friend what they think – before we make our wish.
If all we wish for is…
…for gas prices go down and the stock market up.
…for low-interest loans and high-interest returns.
…for a raise at work, or a promotion!
…for my party to win and your party to lose the election.
…or to win the POWERBALL (come on, admit you’ve thought about what YOU’D do with ALL THAT MONEY!!!)
You see, if those are the only things we WISH for…then we’re only thinking of ourselves. That pretty much describes James & John in today’s gospel (Mark 10:35-45). They were thinking only of themselves, sitting beside Jesus on his throne of power someday. Jesus was having none of it. They had misunderstood his intentions to be a “king of hearts”, not one who ruled over others like a tyrant. It reminds me of the words William Blake once said: “The iron hand crushed the Tyrant’s head and became a Tyrant in his stead.”
Don’t get me wrong, some of those things are important. Self-care in these trying times is essential. If you aren’t fully grounded in your self you’ll be no good to anyone else. Heck, even pastors wish for the perfect congregation – with 100% attendance, 10% tithing toward the budget and to the synod… and no shortage of volunteers stepping up to help! And yet, when was the last time we wished to be like Jesus: not to BE served, but TO serve?
During this election season, all those things we wish for are on full display, through promises made by politicians: “We’re going to create jobs, protect Medicare, secure the borders, protect the environment, AND cut taxes!”
But when do we ever hear about a plan that calls US to serve? A plan that involves sacrifice from EVERYONE, particularly as it involves the long-term care and stewardship of Creation? Clearly, nature lives alongside us in every way. We are intrinsicly linked to every other living organism on the planet. Whether we outlive nature by turning our back on it remains to be seen. Everyone knows that the climate is warming, causing global chain reactions for which we are only beginning to understand the consequences. Regarding our elders, everyone KNOWS that there are more people entering retirement than entering the workforce; and that will put a real STRAIN on Social Security benefits. Most folks know that we spend more on our military than China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, France, the UK, Germany, Japan AND India COMBINED. What if we reduced our spending on the military in order to protect our planet and those most vulnerable among us: children and the elderly?
I’m also thinking quite a lot about the angels who bear us up on eagle’s wings, lest we dash our feet against a stone (from today’s Psalm 91:12). Trusting and believing in angels does not give us a pass to “hang up our own wings” and not be there for others. We would also do well to remember the “Seventh Generation Principle,” based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future. What a wonderful world this would be if we would only have such foresight as our forbears in this!
Let us pray: O God, help us to wish with our friends in mind, and your Creation so that ALL might prosper and grow for seven generations to come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor John Stiles
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Pine City, Minnesota
John Stiles is pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, a Pollinator Sanctuary Congregation of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. Our Redeemer was the recipient of an EcoFaith microgrant this year to develop their pollinator garden with direct engagement from their Sunday School children and their youth.