Everyone was welcomed to Fantasy Island, but everyone had to say “goodbye”
No one likes to say goodbye, but we all have to do it. The act of saying goodbye, say to a friend, family member, or loved one after a visit is difficult. You want to stay, but you have to go. It’s hard to say goodbye, but some of us are better at it then others. You could say that to master the perfect “goodbye” is an art form. Being able to say “bye” without leaving people feeling sad is a skill.
In some cultures, kissing, hugging, crying, or embracing is all normal in the course of the goodbye. The least favorite type of goodbye is the long one. You know, the drawn out, emotional, and chatty goodbye where it takes an hour to get five feet out the door.
Believe it or not, there is a guide for everything. The website “EHow.com” lets people post practical and technical information on how to do things. One person has added a very funny step by step post on “How to say goodbye Southern Style.” In the final step, the follow advice is offered in order to seal the deal:
Open the door, let freezing cold air come whooshing into the house in the middle of the winter and say, “Well, it was lovely to see you, and your house is oh so lovely, and we must do this again some time … ?”
Repeat… if necessary to ensure your host that you really don’t want to leave and that you love them to death.
Nothing says, “I have to go” like cold air coming into someone’s house.
Nothing says “goodbye” like a smile.
In our lectionary scripture texts for this Sunday, Jesus says goodbye to his disciples in Acts 1. After appearing to the disciples for 40 days, it’s time to say goodbye. The ascension of Jesus was something that was most likely difficult for the disciples. Just when Jesus dies, he comes back: tada! Then, Jesus hangs around appearing to different people for awhile. Just when the disciples are used to seeing Jesus: c-ya!
Barbara Brown Taylor, a fantastic preacher and pastor, imagines what it must have been like for the disciples to experience Jesus leaving:
But ascending into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God? That is where Jesus and I part company. That is where he leaves me in the dust. My only experience of the Ascension is from the ground, my neck cranked back as far as it will go, my mouth wide open, my face shielded from the sun by the cloud that is bearing my Lord away.
Jesus knows how to make an exit! This exit, however, does not bring much comfort to the disciples. Perhaps that is why some angels help point the disciples in Acts 1:
While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Luke’s version of the event is much more hopeful because the disciples leave praising God. Why the praise? Well, it is because Holy Spirit is coming, which Jesus said would happen. The Holy Spirit would lead and guide the disciples in the days ahead.
It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone. Like the disciples, they felt abandoned as they watched Jesus leave, but they were hopeful of things to come. We can identify with the disciples because there are times when we feel that God leaves us. A friend dies, a family member dies, or a child dies. Where’s God? What do we do? Where do we go? What do we say?
What do we do when we feel abandoned by God?
This Sunday, we are going to uncover the ways God gives us comfort and assurance when we feel abandoned by God during times of difficulty. In you are in Ballston Spa this Sunday, I invite you to come and worship with us at First Baptist Church @ 10:15 a.m.
May grace and peace of Jesus Christ always be with you.
Easter 7c
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