Accepting authority when one is out of gas at a Wawa

Texts: Psalm 25:1-8, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32

God’s authority frees us for union.

In Psalm 25, he psalmist takes on a humble orientation toward God’s authority that acknowledges our need of God’s mercy, of God’s loving kindness, God’s ability to guide us WHEN we accept God’s authority over us.

Accepting God’s authority is what Paul prescribes to the community of new believers in Philippi. As Paul knows, when the group experiences some conflict or new members join the group, the usually implicit, unspoken values, attitudes and behaviors are examined, either to be affirmed and accepted, or to be re-worked and re-fashioned to move forward. There’s conflict in Philippi. Believers are vying for authority.

That is why we have this text. Paul is doubling down on the behaviors and attitudes he expects the church members to live into fully:

be of the same mind, have the same love, 

be in full accord and of one mind. 

Okay, Paul, how do we do this?

Well, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit

in humility regard others as better than yourselves

Look to the interests of others. 

Accept the mind of Christ,

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Humility, fear and trembling, emptying ourselves…bowing at the knee to the one with real authority- these images permeate our texts today, and teach us how to orient ourselves to the values, attitudes, and behaviors that align us with one another, that align us together with the mind of Christ, the author of our salvation.

Once upon a time, I ran out of gas AT a gas station. The car gave two solid lurches as I was pulling into the gas station, and in my panic I pulled up on THE WRONG SIDE of the car.

I saw an older man enjoying a cigarette, leaning on a car. I asked him if he had a gas can in the car. He did not. As I asked him, a young man comes out of the store and hears enough of this exchange to get the gist of my predicament. 

Young man asks me, “You need me to push your car to another pump?”

I’m humbled. What a kind and merciful offer. In my lowly state of need, I ask humbly,”You don’t mind?”

He nods, tells me to get in the car and follow his directions. I’m nodding and following his instructions. He takes over, and I listen. At one point, instead of turning the wheel as he directed, I go the other way out of instinct. He stops pushing the car, and looks at me through the windshield and very seriously says: “Follow my directions.” There was no anger, no reproach- just clarity. I nod, humbled even further that he would help me and will still help me although I resisted his directions. The next thing you know, I’m right where I need to be to fill up my tank!

Overwhelmed with gratitude and wanting to show it, I grab a big ziploc bag of homemade chocolate chip cookies from the back seat. He is getting into his car already, so I say, “Wait, I have something for you!”

He looks slightly offended and says, “I don’t want your money.”

“It’s not money- it’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. My son made them.”

His face lights up and I see him smile for the first time. His face is beautiful to me with that smile. He reaches for the cookies with noticeable excitement, and nods at me. And off he goes. 

I trusted him, and was humbly following his directions and even still my instincts resisted at one point and I exerted my own authority.  Yes, I instinctively exerted some authority. Me, the one who ran out of gas. Even in my humble, lowly state of fear and trembling, I had trouble turning the steering wheel as the authority directed.

This sounds like our faith journeys sometimes- resisting God’s authority, we want to turn the wheel in our own instinctive directions. Situations in our lives go better when we use our personal authority to release ourself from having to be the authority, and trust God to be in charge. Our hands are on the wheel and yet it is God who is in charge of where we are going, who offers us guidance and direction.

We humbly accept God’s involvement and authority. With fear and trembling, accepting God’s mercy and loving kindness as God looks at us through the windshield and pushes the heavy car toward the right pump. As God, in God’s infinite wisdom, clearly tells us to stop resisting and listen. To stop gripping so tightly and loosen.

We use our own authority gently, with great care and wisdom. We participate in God’s activity in this world in a way that frees us from wrestling with one another and with God. We loosen our death grip on that steering wheel. We listen for God’s guidance. We work with God, with other, we become participants in what God is doing to bring us all together in the mind of Christ. Loosening our grip, gently guiding the wheel, listening to how God directs us in God’s authority toward the salvation God desires for us, this leads us into union. Union with one another, union with God.

God’s authority frees us for union. Union with one another, union with God - that is our common destination. 

Friends, this story unfolded on Sunday, June 15th as I traveled to Maine, our family’s happy place. I was so tired, so excited, so distracted that I ran out of gas at the Wawa in New Castle, Delaware, the last exit before the bridge into New Jersey. Along with my daughter and two dogs and a car full of gear, I was headed out of town, and in my distracted, exhausted state, there I was, in a situation where I became very aware of my need for help. I got in touch with my humility and vulnerability, and I learned to trust another’s clear authority.

We waste a lot of energy on that steering wheel death grip, on wrestling for authority with others and with God. Loosen with me, listen with me so that we can become vehicles of participation with God together. Trust the experience of the psalmist and Paul and people of faith throughout the generations: Humility, fear and trembling, emptying ourselves- this is how we orient to the God who is the authority over all.

Wherever you are today, know that your community of faith is here to help. To support you along the way. When needed, to push you and guide you as you get back on the road to that beautiful place God has in mind for all of us, a place of union, a place of refreshment and joy in Christ.