[Photo Above: Alta’s grandson, Jim Graddick playing the fiddle during the service.]
It was around this time several years ago around the middle of December, that I remember pulling up to a traffic light in the town where I was living. And as I waited at that traffic light, I happened to look to my left and I noticed some steps leading from the sidewalk down to a modest apartment building.
And this is what caught my attention. On the door of this obscure apartment, was a Christmas sign that had the words, “We Still Believe!”
A smile came to my face as I thought about the young child or children who were probably living in that apartment. That family wanted to make sure that Santa wouldn’t forget them that Christmas.
I was thinking of that story as I was preparing for today’s service because as we are getting closer and closer to Christmas, the message on the sign of that apartment door reminds me of the strong faith that Alta and John have passed on to us. They have helped us to have a stronger faith because of their example in what it means to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
The family has shared with me all of the ways that they were involved in the church, like providing food for fund-raiser meals, making needed repairs of the church building, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and faithfully attending worship services every Sunday.
John and Alta were quite the team. This past Sunday would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. And what a family they have! Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Over these past several years, they faithfully lived out their membership vows that they made to the church by offering their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness in very loving and generous ways. They had an unbridled and confident faith which as the scriptures like to remind us, is something that each one of us can have as well.
This is a faith that is rooted in the good news that God loves us and knows everything about us, where we live, what our hopes are, our dreams, our joys, as well as the challenges we face and our times of grief and sorrow like we are experiencing today.
Our Gospel reading that was read a little bit ago is another one of those reminders that can help us to still believe especially when we are facing the pain and sorrow that we sometimes experience in life. Jesus’ dear friends, Mary and Martha were grieving the loss of their brother, Lazarus who had just died. They were also probably a little angry at Jesus because he arrived too late to heal him.
When Martha greets Jesus, she shares her disappointment that he didn’t come sooner, but then she says something really interesting. She tells Jesus, “But even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask him.” And then Jesus tells her, “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. And then he asks her, “Do you believe this?”
And Martha responds, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”
Now that is belief. That is trusting in something that you cannot see but know deep down is true. And from there, Jesus offers a prayer to God and then restores Lazarus back to life.
This story of Jesus’ bringing Lazarus back to life is the 5th of 7 times in the Gospel of John in which Jesus uses an “I am” statement to reveal that he and God are one. Earlier in this Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” I am the light of the world,” I am the door,” “I am the good shepherd.” And in this this story here in chapter 11, he tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
These “I am” statements are meant to strengthen our faith and belief in God especially when we experience heartache, loss, and pain. It is why we dare to put up a sign that says, “We still believe!”
I’m sure that Alta and John had moments where they wondered if God would help them get through challenging times in their lives, but they found ways to trust and believe. Their involvement in the life of the church was an important way for them to renew and strengthen their faith and belief especially through their love of church music, preparing meals for others, and by sharing their gifts of time and resources with the church.
Over my pastoral years of ministry, I have especially appreciated this older generation of people in the congregations I have served because they have strengthened my faith and belief in God again and again and again. I love hearing their stories of faith in how God has guided them through difficult times, and how God has been their source of strength and hope. We have been blessed by their stories of faith.
One of those blessings was during a pastoral visit that I made to Alta’s house this past spring. She was sitting at her favorite spot in her sunroom. With a blanket draped over her lap, I tried to engage her in a conversation.
I said something about her garden and her farm. No response. I asked her about her family. No response. I mentioned about what a sunny day it was. No response. I just couldn’t get her to open her eyes and let me know that she could hear what I was saying even though I was speaking loudly to her.
After a few minutes of this one-sided conversation, I thought maybe she just wants to rest. So, I said to her that I was going to go. And then I said with a very slow and deliberate voice, “Alta, I’m going to leave now, and I’m going to say a prayer.”
I decided to say the Lord’s Prayer, so I began praying, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”
And it was at that point in the prayer, where in her weakened voice, she started praying along with me…
“…Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
You know, sometimes, Alzheimer’s doesn’t win.
I thanked her for praying that prayer with me and then I patted her hand and left the house. And as I was driving away, it occurred to me that she didn’t really need to have a conversation with me. It was more important in that moment for her to have a conversation with her Heavenly Father.
I smiled as I continued my drive down the road thinking about that holy moment. Even in her declining state, Alta taught me that the most important thing we can do is have a conversation with God.
And I invite us to do that now as I lead us in a time of prayer:
Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for the good news of our faith that death does not get the last word. Alzheimer’s does not get the last word. You get the last word because you said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We look forward to that day when we will be reunited with all of your people in your glorious heavenly kingdom.
We are grateful for all with which you have blessed us even to this day. For the gift of joy in days of health and strength and for the gifts of your abiding presence and promise in days of pain and grief. Thank you for sharing Alta with us and for how she has blessed us in so many special ways. Those seeds of the faith that she has planted will continue to grow and flourish in each and every one of us, for you promise that your Word will not return empty.
Above all, we give you thanks for your Son Jesus, who knew our griefs, who died our death, who rose for our sake, and who taught us how to have a conversation with you, simply by praying this prayer together, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the forever. Amen.
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