Lean on Me
We do our very best, on our own. We receive help from others when we need it. The first stated principle shows determination for personal responsibility, and a willingness to work. The second principle recognizes a practical reality that accomplishing some things come better and more efficiently teaming up with another. Do-it-yourself and do-it-yourself with guidance and help are both quite sound principles.
Before the days of GPS, which put us all in the reception of satellite information on where we are and where we want to be, there was a prevalent stereotype. This generalization was women were willing to ask directions and men were stubborn about finding their way on their own. Could there be an element of fragile egos in play with this? There were even jokes about it. It was told if the wise men were the wise women, the Christ child would have had visitors weeks earlier because they would have followed the star, but also asked people for directions.
The conceptualizing of the Christian Life is often symbolized as a journey to somewhere. It is seen as a path toward a place promised, or a movement into a spiritual union with God. It is not a “Lone Ranger” thing. The imagery reliably includes needing the company of others, and certainly, supernatural assistance. The Collect of the Day for next Sunday has all of this: divine promises out ahead, the course as a communal journey, and the help of God by the gift of grace to come alongside our diligent human effort:
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The path into a perfect union in Christ is life-long. It is both, joyful and demanding. We must give it our all, but we know, we wouldn’t have the chance to offer true service to God in the first place unless the gift of grace had brought us into it. We recognize we do not travel toward Promise alone. We are part of the whole pilgrim people of God. This thinking puts us well toward considering the Gospel for Sunday which we will do in a post later this week.
The Gospel shows Jesus illuminating one of the scribes of the day that the two equal and primary commandments are loving God with all we have and loving neighbor as ourselves. The perfect fulfillment of life, the Promise ahead, is union with God who is Love. The way to do that is to love ourselves and to love others in an equally strong way. Grace is required for all of this. Doing our very best and asking for help is our best way forward. It allows us to avoid stumbling and the chance to finish the course.