Be Alert…

Since moving to Estes Park at the end of August, Denise and I have had to learn to be very observant in our daily comings and goings. Actually, we learned that lesson on our first visit when I had my first face-to-face interview with the search committee of Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies in June. When we drive around town, or even step outside the door of our Condo, we have to keep our eyes open. Our four-legged neighbors the Elk wander around as though they own the town. Frankly, I think they do!

One evening when we decided to walk around Lake Estes, we had to adjust our course slightly. There was a herd of Elk making their way from the Visitor’s Center across the bridge to the park. When you have a herd of elk moving from one side of the river to the other, what do you do? Well, the smart and prudent person waits patiently (and takes some amazing pictures like the one above) for the elk to move. The not so smart or prudent person wanders into the herd oblivious to what is going on and sometimes finds themselves face-to-face with a relatively patient female if they are lucky. If they aren’t so lucky, they find themselves backing away from a grumpy Bull Elk!

With the change of season from summer to fall, the elk begin the dating/mating season of rut. This is the time when the aspen leaves turn from green to gold and the males begin to posture and fight for dominance in the herd.  You know the season is coming because in addition to the leaves turning, you hear the males bugling and sparring with each other as they lock horns in an effort to prove dominance. Remember in Junior High when guys first “notice” their female classmates and begin to posture, preen, and show off to get the attention of the girls? Yep, that’s pretty much what the Bull Elks are doing!

Okay, Padre, what does this lesson on the mating habits of the Elk have to do with the Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Advent? It may be a stretch, but bear with me, I will get you there! And for the record, the bear is one of the few four-legged neighbors that we have heard all about but not met to this point. I met some from a distance in Florida which was cool, but not here so far and that is okay!

Jesus said in Luke 21:36a, ” Be alert at all times”. Yes, it is Advent once again and time for the watching and waiting scripture readings along with a healthy dose (or not so healthy depending upon your theology) of apocalyptic passages. While I will be focusing on the reading from the book of Psalms this Sunday (unless I get pulled in another direction… I have discovered that God is funny like that!), the Gospel reading does merit some examination.

Trying to live with this passage in good Ignatian fashion (reading slowly through the passage multiple times and seeing what jumps out at you), that phrase, “be alert” jumped out at me. This week has already caused me to look inwardly and outwardly at the season we are in. It is Thanksgiving week and I took part in the Estes Park Interfaith Alliance Thanksgiving Service this afternoon. We are also approaching the First Sunday of Advent. I have also been reminded that there are only 30 shopping days until Christmas by Social Media and other sources. And thanks to a rather disturbed individual who posted a YouTube rant a couple of weeks ago, the so-called “war on Christmas” is underway.

The rest of verse 36 says “praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place…”. To be honest, I find myself praying that I will have the strength to survive many things… Christmas countdowns that started before Halloween… the continued buffoonery of Donald Trump with his mindless, racist, and fascist rants… the hate-filled statements by christians about refugees…

But that is not what this passage is really saying to me. What I find myself contemplating around the “be alert” phrase is to keep my eye on the target and my head in the game. Believe me, it is easy to focus on the glory of God when you live in a place where you look out the window and see the beauty of the mountains along with the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. However, the “be alert” phrase means more than simply gazing in wonder at the beauty of God’s handiwork.

I seem to hear Jesus saying, “Be alert, Michael. Keep your eyes and your heart open. See me in the face of the stranger on the street. See me in the face of the person in the hospital who is in need of your prayers. See me in the face of that tired barista who just made you that delightful Chai. See me in the face of the cranky person you met in the store or on the street. And, Michael, try to see me even in the face of the bigots and racists who make your blood boil. Forgive them for they don’t really know what they are doing. When you see them, share a little bit of my love with them in a smile, a kind word, or a prayer.”

In the midst of this crazy season, my prayer for myself and for my congregation is that we will slow down and look for Christ in our midst. That we will be alert for the opportunity to not only be Christ to them, but at times for them to be Christ to us.

Will you join me, dear reader in this effort? Will you be alert with me for the opportunities to love God and love neighbor? Will you be alert with me for opportunities to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God?