Loving Our Wild Neighbors – Holy Ground Sermon Series Week 4 (Job 12: 7-10)
Scott Thompson was in his fishing boat late one night. At this point he was miles off the coast of California. It was dark that night. Almost pitch black because there was no moon that night. Perhaps it was the darkness of the night that led to the “error in judgement” as he called it, that led him to fall out of his boat and into the cold water. Hitting that cold, cold water was a shock as he was only wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Once he got his bearings, he started swimming back to his boat. However, he soon realized that even though he was swimming as hard as he could, he was not getting any closer to his boat. In fact, the boat was getting farther away from him! Unfortunately, the boats motor was running when he fell into the ocean, and now it was running away from him. He realized he would not be able to catch up to it, and soon the boat was out of site, leaving him floating alone in the middle of the ocean.
It was in this moment that the terrifying reality set in for Scott. That this might be his last night, he might die there in the water. Survival instincts kicked in and he began to swim, determined not to give up. All he could think about was his family and what would happen to them if he couldn’t make it home safely. He swam and swam, and even the thoughts of his family couldn’t keep his hopes up. Suddenly, he heard behind him a splash, the sound of something coming up from under the water. He was sure that it was a shark and that it was going to attack him. But, when he got up the courage to look behind him, he saw that it was not a shark at all, it was a seal. The seal bobbed there in the water, looking at him. In his relief and feeling a need for companionship in this dark moment, Scott began to talk to the seal. The seal came close to him and stayed by his side as Scott began to swim again.
They swam and they swam together. All told, they swam for about five hours. The seal stayed with Scott for the whole journey. Scott talked to the seal all the way, sometimes telling corny “Dad jokes” that he like to tease his kids with, and sometimes singing his favorite Grateful Dead songs. When Scott would slow down and get discouraged, the seal would come up from behind him and nudge him forward. Finally, they came upon an oil platform. The crew pulled Scott out of the water and gave him first aid until the Coast Guard would arrive to take him to the hospital where he would be treated for hypothermia. In retelling his story Scott talked about the importance of his companion the seal and said that this experience led him to believe that maybe there was someone or something out there looking for him, helping him in his time of need.
During this sermon series focused on creation care we have reflected on the many ways we are able to connect with and have an experience of God in nature, in God’s creation. We talked about meeting God with our feet on the ground, literally. Taking in the gifts of the Earth. Last we reflected on water as a way to understand God and experience the divine. This week the focus of worship is Holy Creatures, in other words, experiencing God in our animal neighbors. Have you ever felt closer to God when you were with an animal? Has an experience of an animal made you feel as if you have experienced God? While he doesn’t say it in so many words, I think Scott Thompson had just such an experience that night in the ocean. He was alone and fighting for his survival. Many people report coming to belief in God when they are faced with such dire situations. Scott’s situation is unique though, there was a seal involved. In the darkest and most desperate hour of this man’s life an animal companion joined him on the journey and offered him support and encouragement in a way that, in those moments, no human could. A constant help in a time of trouble.
In this seal, I believe we see the way that people can experience God during difficult times. God is there with us, always, for whatever we need. We can talk to God in the darkness, whether we are telling dad jokes or singing Grateful Dead songs or, perhaps, praying. God can nudge us along when we need, or swim at our side when we need that. The seal provided Scott with an experience of God’s presence that helped to change his perspective on the existence of a divine being.
In our scripture reading this morning, we heard an excerpt from the story of Job. Job was a man who was also having a dark and difficult experience. Except his faith was being tested. He was a man who believed devoutly in God and lived his life obediently to God. So, he lived a favored life. However, as a result of a debate between God and Satan Job is tested. Satan believes that if Job has all that he loves and has worked for taken away from him he will eventually renounce God. God believes Job will remain faithful. So, everything is taken from Job. His family, his wealth, and his health. He is left with nothing, and we find him sitting in the ashes of his former life. It is from here that he speaks the words we read this morning. As he is sitting there, three of his friends come to him, but instead of words of comfort they quickly begin to question him and debate him, saying surely Job had done something to bring all this calamity upon himself. His friend Zophar is the last to speak, and he suggests that maybe Job just doesn’t understand the mysterious workings of God. Job’s response is to send their words right back in their faces. To say that he knows who God is and maybe they are the ones who don’t understand God. Maybe they should educate themselves by observing the animals and learning from them. Even the animals know that it is God created the cosmos and holds all things.
Imagine yourself in Job’s situation – or perhaps not his exact situation. Things get pretty bad for Job. Instead, remember a time in your life that was difficult, that left you feeling depressed, maybe it even had you questioning your faith. Maybe in that moment you were lucky enough to have a pet, a dog or a cat, that came up and sat with you. They provided you with that unconditional love and companionship that a pet brings to our lives. In a dark and depressing moment wouldn’t you rather have the attention of a good dog rather than the friends like Job’s? Sometimes wouldn’t we much rather have the silent companionship of a pet more than even well-intentioned friends who just want to talk about it, interrogate the situation, rationalize things, or debate things? Wouldn’t you rather have the company of an encouraging seal than a friend who just wants to explain and rehash how you ended up in the water in the first place?
In his time of trouble, Job looks to the animals. Not just as a source of comfort or encouragement, but as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. God did not put life on this planet simply to be subject to God’s will. Which is what Job’s friends are saying, “This must be God’s will. You must have done something that caused God to bring this down on you.” But Job says, learn from the animals. All life has its own part to play in the thriving and abundance of creation. We can see this very clearly in animals. They move through their existence acting from a place of natural desire and being in tune with their needs. Living as God created them to. They know what to, how to do it, when to do it, from a place deep inside. It’s their animal instinct. Animals know instinctually how to enjoy and be fulfilled by God’s creation. We humans could too, I suppose, but we also have the gift of the human brain. The human brain that leads us to overthink, or catastrophize, or misinterpret, or rationalize our actions instead of just doing what comes naturally. Our minds that we use to make decisions based on greed, or anger, or fear, or lust, or jealousy, and on and on. It’s any train of thought and action that leads us to feel disconnected from the world God made for us. Like Job’s friends who responded to their friend’s pain with suspicion and debate rather than with empathy and love. Can you imagine an animal that would do that? Can you believe in a God that would react like that?
British broadcaster, biologist and animal lover David Attenborough said, “I think sometimes we need to take a step back and just remember we have no greater right to be here than any other animal.” Which is true. We may have a specific role, we might even say a special calling, as part of this creation, to be caretakers of God’s great gift. We also have unique mental and physical gifts that we have been given that allow us to survive and carry out this role, but it does not mean we have more of a right to be here.
Animals, like humans, are works of God’s creativity and expressions of the nature of God. However, animals are, I think, incapable of forgetting this. While, as humans, we can get wrapped up in concerns of the world, meaning our personal concerns – we spend a lot of time trying to stay comfortable in the status quo, or making sure we are always getting our preference for one situation or another, or attending to the needs of our ego. Or we spend time trying to operate within the systems of this world. All things that are necessary to get us through the day and survive in this world, but also things that get us in our head or in our feelings and we risk losing sight of our place in creation and make us feel disconnected from our relationship with God. Like Job’s friends we are always looking for the answer or trying to find a way or an opportunity to explain our answers to others. Certain that we can make the world make sense. Yet in the process, we can become disconnected from the Creator. We can forget.
The animals don’t forget, though. Think of the times when you stopped and observed an animal. Did it seem to be anything less than completely on its purpose. Think of the birds that fly together in formation, headed south when it gets cold. Think of the bee that buzzes around the flowers outside your house, as if its inescapably drawn to it. Think of the mother bear caring for her cubs, or the rooster that crows in the morning. Or the house pet, the dog or the cat, that greets you and shows you affection after a long day. So, as Job says, “ask the animals and they will teach you.” What will they teach you? That in God’s “hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” In this way they will teach you that the purpose and presence of God is within you always. So, if you have the chance this week, spend some time with an animal. Observe their inner peace, their compassion, their deep knowing. Perhaps we can feel more connected with God if we learn these things from the animals and cultivate these qualities within ourselves. So, that in those times we feel lost and disconnected we might have the peace of mind to feel that seal-like presence coming up alongside us, to encourage us and accompany us, and help us find the way home.
Amen.