Blessed with Life
John 10:6-10
November 12, 2005
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the
sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less
about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because
my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while
watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go
into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show
soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every
moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance
in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get
washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and
really see it ... live it...and never give it back.
So wrote housewife-turned-columnist, Erma Bombeck, shortly after her 1992 diagnosis
with breast cancer.
Life! We are blessed with life! Each and every one of us sitting here today is blessed with
LIFE. In fact we are extravagantly blessed with life. Have you ever thought about the fact
that all of us have lived 365 days in each year we have been alive -with 24 hours in each day
and 60 minutes in each hour and 1440 minutes in each day that's 525,600 minutes each and
every year? 525,600 times each year we have a fresh new opportunity to experience the
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 2 -
blessing of life. The question is, will we "seize every minute... look at it and really see it ...
live it"?
In the portion of John's gospel that Shawn read this morning we hear Jesus say, "I came
so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." Now
let me make one thing very clear here. Jesus is not talking about what happens after we die!
This real and eternal life is the quality of life that God intends for us to have NOW! It is a
way of living that empowers us to seize every minute, look at it and really see it, cherish it
and live it for all its worth! So what truth, what piece of wisdom, what gift for our lives does
this brief story from the life of Jesus hold for us?
To grasp what's going on here, we need to step back and get a picture of shepherding in
ancient Israel. When a shepherd took sheep out to graze they would be gone for several
days at a time. During the day the sheep could run freely, grazing where they would as long
as they were within the sight lines of the shepherd. But at night it was essential that the
shepherd gather the sheep together and take them to one of the many sheepfolds that were
built on the Galilean hillside. Now these were community sheepfolds, available for any
shepherd whose sheep were grazing in the area, and as such they didn't have a gate. So at
the end of the day, the shepherd would lead the sheep to the enclosure, checking each one
as it entered to make sure there were no injuries that needed attention. Then once all the
sheep were safely enclosed in the fold, the shepherd would lie down across the opening of
the enclosure, literally becoming the gate. Positioned this way, the shepherd could also rest,
secure that the sheep could not get out and if a predator came for the sheep, it would first
encounter the shepherd. Then in the morning, well rested the shepherd got up and led the
sheep to fresh new pastures to graze and run and play and do the things that sheep love to
do. And Jesus says "I am the gate. Divine Presence is the door.
Now, I don't know if sheep are capable of feeling fear. I think fear is a human emotion -
one with which we are all too familiar! So as a human, what I see here is a relationship
between the sheep and the shepherd in which the sheep can move from fear to trust. They
"know" the shepherd and they trust that the shepherd will care for them -in the fold or out
of it- so they are free to be who they are and do what sheep do.
Could it be that we find real life, abundant life, more and better life than we ever dream
of when we learn to live in an open, trusting, intimate relationship with God, recognizing
each moment -no matter what that moment holds- as the blessing that it is? Could it be that
we truly live when we allow the Spirit of Life to lead us and empower us to live each moment
to the fullest, giving the gifts only we can give, dancing the dance only we can dance,
creating the beauty only we can create, singing the song that is waiting in our heart to be
sung?
A number of years ago I met a woman whose joy and enthusiasm for life was infectious.
She went out of her way to offer simple kindness and caring in each and every moment of
life. She faced difficulties with courage and seemed open to whatever life brought in any
given moment. As we talked about this, she said, "Well, you know, Nancy, once you've faced
the end of your life with something like cancer and survived, you wake up grateful for each
new day and every next breath."
Albert Einstein said it this way, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as
though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
In his book No Ordinary Moments, Dan Millman writes:
I've learned that the quality of each moment depends not on what we get from
it, but on what we bring to it. I treat no moment as ordinary, no matter how
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 3 -
mundane or routine it appears. I practice writing, sitting, eating, and breathing
with my full attention. ... By treating every action with respect and every
moment as sacred, I've found a new relationship with life, filled with passion
and purpose.
Jesus came and comes to awaken us to the sacredness of every moment and the
blessing of every breath in order to empower us to step beyond our fear, and live fully and
freely in every moment.
One of the angels God sent into the world to help us receive this truth was, not
surprisingly a child by the name of Mattie Stepanek. Mattie was born on July 17, 1990 and
died on June 22, 204. Mattie began writing poetry when he was 3 years old following the
death of his older brother. Mattie wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a
philosopher who played." In 2001 he wrote this poem titled About Things that Matter.
It matters that the world knows
We must celebrate the gift of life
Every day in some way, and
We must always remember
To play after every storm.
It matters that the world knows
All children are truly blessed
With the innocent gifts of gentleness
Trust, and compassion, which
Should guide the wisdom of grown-ups.
It matters that the world knows
Our senses can help us discover
The hidden and non-hidden
Enchantment in life, if we use them fully.
It matters that the world knows
We must choose our words and our wants
Carefully, or we could forever hurt others
With these dangerous weapons.
It matters that the world knows
Strength and value of all things created
Must be measured by character and contentment
Rather than by might and wealth.
It matters that the world knows
We must heed the valuable lessons of
Everday life, through the celebration of
Children and heartsongs, senses and words.
Or we could lose in our journey to the future.
It matters that the world knows
A person by my name and being existed
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 4 -
With a string spirit and an eternal mindset
To become a peacemaker for all
By sharing the things that really matter.
Amen.
John 10:6-10
November 12, 2005
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the
sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less
about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because
my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while
watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go
into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show
soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every
moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance
in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get
washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and
really see it ... live it...and never give it back.
So wrote housewife-turned-columnist, Erma Bombeck, shortly after her 1992 diagnosis
with breast cancer.
Life! We are blessed with life! Each and every one of us sitting here today is blessed with
LIFE. In fact we are extravagantly blessed with life. Have you ever thought about the fact
that all of us have lived 365 days in each year we have been alive -with 24 hours in each day
and 60 minutes in each hour and 1440 minutes in each day that's 525,600 minutes each and
every year? 525,600 times each year we have a fresh new opportunity to experience the
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 2 -
blessing of life. The question is, will we "seize every minute... look at it and really see it ...
live it"?
In the portion of John's gospel that Shawn read this morning we hear Jesus say, "I came
so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." Now
let me make one thing very clear here. Jesus is not talking about what happens after we die!
This real and eternal life is the quality of life that God intends for us to have NOW! It is a
way of living that empowers us to seize every minute, look at it and really see it, cherish it
and live it for all its worth! So what truth, what piece of wisdom, what gift for our lives does
this brief story from the life of Jesus hold for us?
To grasp what's going on here, we need to step back and get a picture of shepherding in
ancient Israel. When a shepherd took sheep out to graze they would be gone for several
days at a time. During the day the sheep could run freely, grazing where they would as long
as they were within the sight lines of the shepherd. But at night it was essential that the
shepherd gather the sheep together and take them to one of the many sheepfolds that were
built on the Galilean hillside. Now these were community sheepfolds, available for any
shepherd whose sheep were grazing in the area, and as such they didn't have a gate. So at
the end of the day, the shepherd would lead the sheep to the enclosure, checking each one
as it entered to make sure there were no injuries that needed attention. Then once all the
sheep were safely enclosed in the fold, the shepherd would lie down across the opening of
the enclosure, literally becoming the gate. Positioned this way, the shepherd could also rest,
secure that the sheep could not get out and if a predator came for the sheep, it would first
encounter the shepherd. Then in the morning, well rested the shepherd got up and led the
sheep to fresh new pastures to graze and run and play and do the things that sheep love to
do. And Jesus says "I am the gate. Divine Presence is the door.
Now, I don't know if sheep are capable of feeling fear. I think fear is a human emotion -
one with which we are all too familiar! So as a human, what I see here is a relationship
between the sheep and the shepherd in which the sheep can move from fear to trust. They
"know" the shepherd and they trust that the shepherd will care for them -in the fold or out
of it- so they are free to be who they are and do what sheep do.
Could it be that we find real life, abundant life, more and better life than we ever dream
of when we learn to live in an open, trusting, intimate relationship with God, recognizing
each moment -no matter what that moment holds- as the blessing that it is? Could it be that
we truly live when we allow the Spirit of Life to lead us and empower us to live each moment
to the fullest, giving the gifts only we can give, dancing the dance only we can dance,
creating the beauty only we can create, singing the song that is waiting in our heart to be
sung?
A number of years ago I met a woman whose joy and enthusiasm for life was infectious.
She went out of her way to offer simple kindness and caring in each and every moment of
life. She faced difficulties with courage and seemed open to whatever life brought in any
given moment. As we talked about this, she said, "Well, you know, Nancy, once you've faced
the end of your life with something like cancer and survived, you wake up grateful for each
new day and every next breath."
Albert Einstein said it this way, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as
though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
In his book No Ordinary Moments, Dan Millman writes:
I've learned that the quality of each moment depends not on what we get from
it, but on what we bring to it. I treat no moment as ordinary, no matter how
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 3 -
mundane or routine it appears. I practice writing, sitting, eating, and breathing
with my full attention. ... By treating every action with respect and every
moment as sacred, I've found a new relationship with life, filled with passion
and purpose.
Jesus came and comes to awaken us to the sacredness of every moment and the
blessing of every breath in order to empower us to step beyond our fear, and live fully and
freely in every moment.
One of the angels God sent into the world to help us receive this truth was, not
surprisingly a child by the name of Mattie Stepanek. Mattie was born on July 17, 1990 and
died on June 22, 204. Mattie began writing poetry when he was 3 years old following the
death of his older brother. Mattie wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a
philosopher who played." In 2001 he wrote this poem titled About Things that Matter.
It matters that the world knows
We must celebrate the gift of life
Every day in some way, and
We must always remember
To play after every storm.
It matters that the world knows
All children are truly blessed
With the innocent gifts of gentleness
Trust, and compassion, which
Should guide the wisdom of grown-ups.
It matters that the world knows
Our senses can help us discover
The hidden and non-hidden
Enchantment in life, if we use them fully.
It matters that the world knows
We must choose our words and our wants
Carefully, or we could forever hurt others
With these dangerous weapons.
It matters that the world knows
Strength and value of all things created
Must be measured by character and contentment
Rather than by might and wealth.
It matters that the world knows
We must heed the valuable lessons of
Everday life, through the celebration of
Children and heartsongs, senses and words.
Or we could lose in our journey to the future.
It matters that the world knows
A person by my name and being existed
O:\Sermons\sermons 2006\11-12-06 john 10-6-10.doc Last printed 11/27/2006 12:34:00 PM - 4 -
With a string spirit and an eternal mindset
To become a peacemaker for all
By sharing the things that really matter.
Amen.
