I AM - the Way, the Truth and the Life!
John 14:6
March 25, 2007
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
A number of months ago Jenifer Bray and I went to a day long Interplay workshop in
Princeton, Illinois. Jenifer offered to drive so I could have my very first experience of being in a car
with a GPS navigation system. I was fascinated watching our progress on the screen as we drove.
I kept shaking my head in amazement as the guiding voice of the system -who happened to be
female- alerted us when it was time to make a turn or take an exit from the Interstate. One time
Jenifer intentionally ignored one of the guide's instructions so I could experience her repeated
"you are about to miss your turn" warnings and then watch as she recalculated the route and tried
to get us back on course. But the most fun occurred when we got close to our destination in
downtown Princeton -a small town a bit south west of here for those of you that don't know
Princeton. As we left the Interstate and approached the center of town, Jenifer's guide went nuts
-"Caution entering uncharted territory; proceed at your own risk! Caution entering uncharted
territory; proceed at your own risk! Caution entering uncharted territory; proceed at your own risk"
John 14:6
March 25, 2007
Rev. Nancy Pfaltzgraf
A number of months ago Jenifer Bray and I went to a day long Interplay workshop in
Princeton, Illinois. Jenifer offered to drive so I could have my very first experience of being in a car
with a GPS navigation system. I was fascinated watching our progress on the screen as we drove.
I kept shaking my head in amazement as the guiding voice of the system -who happened to be
female- alerted us when it was time to make a turn or take an exit from the Interstate. One time
Jenifer intentionally ignored one of the guide's instructions so I could experience her repeated
"you are about to miss your turn" warnings and then watch as she recalculated the route and tried
to get us back on course. But the most fun occurred when we got close to our destination in
downtown Princeton -a small town a bit south west of here for those of you that don't know
Princeton. As we left the Interstate and approached the center of town, Jenifer's guide went nuts
-"Caution entering uncharted territory; proceed at your own risk! Caution entering uncharted
territory; proceed at your own risk! Caution entering uncharted territory; proceed at your own risk"
I thought Jenifer and I were going to split a gut we were laughing so hard. But even though
we finally turned the GPS off and followed my printed map it just might be that her navigator was
more right than she knew. After all, we were headed for Open Prairie United Church of Christ -a
Just Peace, Open and Affirming congregation whose pastor happens to be a lesbian woman. And I
know -beyond a doubt- that Open Prairie is uncharted territory for the little town of Princeton.
Whether or not you have a GPS system in your car, on your phone, or in a free standing unit,
each and every one of you does have an even better and more sophisticated navigational system
that's with you every where you go. It's that system that Jesus points to as he says to his
disciples, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me."
As we have been discovering during our Lenten journey this year, the saying's in John's gospel
that begin with the English words "I AM," offer amazing blessings for our life journey when we
look at them through the lens of Aramaic, the language Jesus of Nazareth and most of the early
disciples actually spoke. Thanks to the scholarship of Neil Douglas-Klotz and his books The Hidden
Gospel: Decoding the Spiritual Message of the Aramaic Jesus and Desert Wisdom, we have access
to this richness. Thus we have come to understand that in each of these I AM statements Jesus is
not pointing to himself in the way that I would say, "I am a woman or I am a pastor;" but rather
he is pointing to God, the Great I AM, the Holy One who he knew to be present in the depths of
each soul.
Likewise, the Aramaic word urha, usually translated way refers to "the light that uncovers a
path, shows a hidden possibility, or reveals a practical way that was previously unknown." Sherara
usually translated as "truth" points to a "solution or liberation, the opening of a circle, the sense of
right direction that is in harmony with the universe." And hayye the word that is usually translated
"life" also carries the sense of the "sacred life force, the primal energy that pervades all of nature
and the universe."
With these deeper meanings in mind, Neil offers these possible translations:
"The I AM is the path, the sense of right direction and the life force to travel it.
"Simple presence illuminates what's ahead, frees our choices and connects us to nature's
power.
"Sacred Unity is the road, the compass and the fuel for the journey."
O:\Sermons\Sermons 2007\03-25-07 john 14-6.docLast printed 4/13/2007 10:01:00 AM - 2 -
In other words, the Great I AM built into the soul of each and every one of us is like the most
sophisticated GPS system ever imagined. Not only does the Holy One know the exact destination
of our life's journey, understand the possibilities and limitations of our particular vehicle and offer
turn by turn guidance -complete with cautions and warning signals- to keep us on the appropriate
path, headed in the right direction, but the Spirit even makes sure that we don't run out of gas
before we complete the journey. I pretty sure even OnStar doesn't do all that!
But, just like we can only receive the help of a GPS unit if we learn how to operate it,
remember to turn it on and then pay attention to its directions, we only receive Divine Guidance
when we learn how to listen for God's still speaking voice, pay attention to God's guidance and
then dare to follow where the Spirit leads us.
As I was preparing the sermon this week, I came across a little book titled Let Your Life
Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, by Parker J. Palmer. I had purchased the book some
months ago at a clergy workshop where Parker Palmer was the presenter; but I not had time to
read it. Within the first five pages I knew it held insights that were important to today's reflections.
Now to most people vocation has to do with our profession or source of employment. But
according to Palmer, Vocation is the essence of what we have been gifted and created to do with
this life we have been given -whether or not it generates an income. It's about our unique calling,
our particular gift in the fabric of creation. And Palmer asserts, vocation "does not come from a
voice "out there" calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice 'in here" calling me
to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God."
So for Palmer this is the key question: "Is the life I'm living the same as the life that wants to
live in me?" In other words am I paying attention to my built-in GPS system or am I following
someone else's directions speeding down a road I was never intended to travel? It is a question
that began to haunt Palmer when he was in his mid thirties. In sharing insights he has uncovered
as he has struggled with this question Palmer says:
Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it
conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so we will not only find
the joy that every human being seeks - we will also find our path of authentic
service in the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Fredrick Buechner
asserts when he defines vocation as "the place where your deep joy meets the
world's deep need."
"The place where your deep joy meets the world's deep need!" Could it be that learning to
listen for the voice of the still speaking God, learning to find the Divine Directions for our life
involves learning to listen deeply to our own hearts; paying attention to what brings us joy; and
noticing what brings us a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment and likewise observing what leaves
us drained, empty, restless or discontent? Could it be that learning to journey with the guidance of
our Spiritual GPS system involves noticing those things that stir our hearts and paying attention to
the situations that tug at our spirit?
It has taken me some time to discover, but in listening to my own life and daring to trust the
guidance I receive, I have begun to recognize that teaching brings me great joy. I remember the
first time I really realized it was one summer when I was teaching a class on healing in the
morning and repeating the same class in the evening. Someone said something to me about it and
my reply surprised even me. "Well," I said, "if I could do nothing but teach or prepare to teach, I
could work twelve hours a day and never be tired. I love to teach!" It has also taken some time to
claim it, but I love to dance, and it brings me immense joy to see people begin to discover their
own gifts and come to recognize their own value and worth. So, as I have begun to discover
things like the Dances of Universal Peace and Interplay, where I can teach and dance and in the
O:\Sermons\Sermons 2007\03-25-07 john 14-6.docLast printed 4/13/2007 10:01:00 AM - 3 -
process help people awaken to the Divine I Am in their own lives I experience a joy that defies
description.
Each and every one of us has a built-in GPS. As we learn to pay attention to its subtle
messages, dare to trust its life-giving directions, and follow its wisdom we will find our way step by
step and turn by turn into the grace and beauty, the joy and abundance of the life we long to
know. Amen.
we finally turned the GPS off and followed my printed map it just might be that her navigator was
more right than she knew. After all, we were headed for Open Prairie United Church of Christ -a
Just Peace, Open and Affirming congregation whose pastor happens to be a lesbian woman. And I
know -beyond a doubt- that Open Prairie is uncharted territory for the little town of Princeton.
Whether or not you have a GPS system in your car, on your phone, or in a free standing unit,
each and every one of you does have an even better and more sophisticated navigational system
that's with you every where you go. It's that system that Jesus points to as he says to his
disciples, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me."
As we have been discovering during our Lenten journey this year, the saying's in John's gospel
that begin with the English words "I AM," offer amazing blessings for our life journey when we
look at them through the lens of Aramaic, the language Jesus of Nazareth and most of the early
disciples actually spoke. Thanks to the scholarship of Neil Douglas-Klotz and his books The Hidden
Gospel: Decoding the Spiritual Message of the Aramaic Jesus and Desert Wisdom, we have access
to this richness. Thus we have come to understand that in each of these I AM statements Jesus is
not pointing to himself in the way that I would say, "I am a woman or I am a pastor;" but rather
he is pointing to God, the Great I AM, the Holy One who he knew to be present in the depths of
each soul.
Likewise, the Aramaic word urha, usually translated way refers to "the light that uncovers a
path, shows a hidden possibility, or reveals a practical way that was previously unknown." Sherara
usually translated as "truth" points to a "solution or liberation, the opening of a circle, the sense of
right direction that is in harmony with the universe." And hayye the word that is usually translated
"life" also carries the sense of the "sacred life force, the primal energy that pervades all of nature
and the universe."
With these deeper meanings in mind, Neil offers these possible translations:
"The I AM is the path, the sense of right direction and the life force to travel it.
"Simple presence illuminates what's ahead, frees our choices and connects us to nature's
power.
"Sacred Unity is the road, the compass and the fuel for the journey."
O:\Sermons\Sermons 2007\03-25-07 john 14-6.docLast printed 4/13/2007 10:01:00 AM - 2 -
In other words, the Great I AM built into the soul of each and every one of us is like the most
sophisticated GPS system ever imagined. Not only does the Holy One know the exact destination
of our life's journey, understand the possibilities and limitations of our particular vehicle and offer
turn by turn guidance -complete with cautions and warning signals- to keep us on the appropriate
path, headed in the right direction, but the Spirit even makes sure that we don't run out of gas
before we complete the journey. I pretty sure even OnStar doesn't do all that!
But, just like we can only receive the help of a GPS unit if we learn how to operate it,
remember to turn it on and then pay attention to its directions, we only receive Divine Guidance
when we learn how to listen for God's still speaking voice, pay attention to God's guidance and
then dare to follow where the Spirit leads us.
As I was preparing the sermon this week, I came across a little book titled Let Your Life
Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, by Parker J. Palmer. I had purchased the book some
months ago at a clergy workshop where Parker Palmer was the presenter; but I not had time to
read it. Within the first five pages I knew it held insights that were important to today's reflections.
Now to most people vocation has to do with our profession or source of employment. But
according to Palmer, Vocation is the essence of what we have been gifted and created to do with
this life we have been given -whether or not it generates an income. It's about our unique calling,
our particular gift in the fabric of creation. And Palmer asserts, vocation "does not come from a
voice "out there" calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice 'in here" calling me
to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God."
So for Palmer this is the key question: "Is the life I'm living the same as the life that wants to
live in me?" In other words am I paying attention to my built-in GPS system or am I following
someone else's directions speeding down a road I was never intended to travel? It is a question
that began to haunt Palmer when he was in his mid thirties. In sharing insights he has uncovered
as he has struggled with this question Palmer says:
Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it
conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so we will not only find
the joy that every human being seeks - we will also find our path of authentic
service in the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Fredrick Buechner
asserts when he defines vocation as "the place where your deep joy meets the
world's deep need."
"The place where your deep joy meets the world's deep need!" Could it be that learning to
listen for the voice of the still speaking God, learning to find the Divine Directions for our life
involves learning to listen deeply to our own hearts; paying attention to what brings us joy; and
noticing what brings us a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment and likewise observing what leaves
us drained, empty, restless or discontent? Could it be that learning to journey with the guidance of
our Spiritual GPS system involves noticing those things that stir our hearts and paying attention to
the situations that tug at our spirit?
It has taken me some time to discover, but in listening to my own life and daring to trust the
guidance I receive, I have begun to recognize that teaching brings me great joy. I remember the
first time I really realized it was one summer when I was teaching a class on healing in the
morning and repeating the same class in the evening. Someone said something to me about it and
my reply surprised even me. "Well," I said, "if I could do nothing but teach or prepare to teach, I
could work twelve hours a day and never be tired. I love to teach!" It has also taken some time to
claim it, but I love to dance, and it brings me immense joy to see people begin to discover their
own gifts and come to recognize their own value and worth. So, as I have begun to discover
things like the Dances of Universal Peace and Interplay, where I can teach and dance and in the
O:\Sermons\Sermons 2007\03-25-07 john 14-6.docLast printed 4/13/2007 10:01:00 AM - 3 -
process help people awaken to the Divine I Am in their own lives I experience a joy that defies
description.
Each and every one of us has a built-in GPS. As we learn to pay attention to its subtle
messages, dare to trust its life-giving directions, and follow its wisdom we will find our way step by
step and turn by turn into the grace and beauty, the joy and abundance of the life we long to
know. Amen.
