It is interesting this year particularly, that these texts are coming to us just as the end is coming - in the Mayan calendar, at least. One of my facebook friends posted on Wednesday, November 7:
Now that all that election mumbo jumbo is over, maybe we can focus on the fact that the world is due to end on December 21st, 2012.While said in humor and jest, it is interesting that, for the most part, we live our lives as though we would live forever. We don't really think about the end until some crazy person makes a prophecy only to have the supposed 'last day' come and go, and the world still exists. So even if we had been holding our breath (just a little bit - and not enough that we would admit it to anyone) life goes on. Schedules fill up, errands are run, and we live making plans for the future.
Some days it seems as if Jesus' predictions are coming true. Rumors of war, earthquakes, famine - all this must take place Jesus says. And these are but the beginning of the birth pangs. Now, having been through labor and childbirth, I know what it is to wait. The beginning of the birth pangs, through the middle, these are the worst. You know there is a long way to go. You are prepared for the work and the pain. And even as expedited as my labor was (I received a bit of pitocin to get my labor going), there was a moment in the middle when it seemed as if it would never end. The pain was intense, weariness was edging its way in, and I didn't see a way out.
The people in Jesus' time felt this way. Always living with the expectation that the world would end, it seemed that the end was just never coming. There were all these predictions and signs that it was about to come, but each day the sun rose and set, and life continued. When we hear texts about the end of the world it may seem a little disconnected. In our post-enlightenment, and now post-modern world view, the end of time is of little concern to us. We don't live with the fear or anticipation of the end. Or do we?
Who of us hasn't thought, at least once or twice, "will the world never change?" Who of us hasn't wished, at least once or twice, "please let there be no more pain"? Who of us hasn't once or twice wanted to simply give up hope and quit. Not necessarily on any one, big thing like life, but in those daily, little things. Perhaps you are trying to break or create a habit - will the end never come? Perhaps you are living in a particularly busy time in life - will the end never come? Perhaps you are going through a laboriously difficult spell - will the end never come?
It is into this small, daily expectation and anticipation that our Word from scripture comes to us. And it is particularly to Hebrews that I want to pay attention.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
Perhaps what our author from Hebrews is trying to remind us here is that it is not just about the end. It is also about the all the little, in-between moments that make up life. It isn't about that great day of judgement, but it is about each day where each of us makes judgement on how we lived. It isn't about the great resurrection, but it is about each little moment of resurrection life we live in faith. It is about not giving up hope in the little things so that when the big thing comes we wait for it with anticipation and excitement.
Because, in the end, when the labor is over, we will have arrived. The end is where all is well. The end is where the life lived is brought to everlasting life. The end is where there is no more pain, suffering, or sorrow. The end is where we are once again whole. The end is where, with Christ our king, we live forever in glory.
And until we get there, I am left pondering the mystery, how is my labor?
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