Acts 1: 6-14
“Found myself in charge, gave myself a special”
Those words from are legendary within the Chicago Fire Department. They come from the days when Chicago firefighters worked 24 hours on and 24 hours off throughout the entire year. They had very little vacation time. But occasionally an officer would grant a firefighter an unscheduled day off; a special.
One day, a firefighter was placed in charge of his fire company. Shortly after the morning roll call, he inscribed the legendary phrase in the fire house journal. He was the one in charge. So he could choose who could take a day off. And he decided he himself was the most deserving candidate for the special day off.
No one recorded the reaction of the other firefighters to this momentous decision. But we can safely assume confusion, anger, and disapointment were among them.
In those ways they probably felt a lot like the disciples as they talked to Jesus face to face for the last time on the day of our Lord’s ascension. They’d been through an awful lot in the past few months. First Jesus, someone who’d become infinitely precious to them had been cruelly taken away from them by death. Then to their utter amazement, he was back among them. And now, just as they’re getting used to the idea Jesus was alive and present with them, he was taking off again. Their Lord and Savior, the one who was ultimately in charge was bugging out and giving himself a special.
You can see their confusion in their question, “Lord is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” In other words, are you going to take care of us and all our sisters and brothers? What are we going to do without you? After all, what could they do without Jesus’ presence to aid them?
In Christ’s church today, we often ask the same question. In fact I’ve heard it here in this very building. It might be phrased it a little differently, but in essence the question is the same. We’re only a few people. So how can we do redevelopment? How can we make this church thrive with so few here to help us? How can we faithful few make a difference?
In asking those questions we assume Jesus is gone. After all we don’t see Christ sitting in the pew with us. The last time I looked there was no entry in the guest register reading “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” And the name Jesus of Nazareth isn’t on the membership rolls. There’s another story out of the Chicago Fire Department that seems to speak to our assumptions. It’s the story of a firefighter named Frank Leavy.
- On April 18th in the year 1924
Frank Leavy was washing a window
at his fire house;
Engine Company 107.
For some reason,
he paused in his work
while his hand rested against the window
he was working on.
As he stood there
he told a friend
he had the feeling
he was going to die on that day.
At that moment
an alarm signal came in
sending the engine to a fire
at an office building in Chicago
named Curran Hall.
Frank Leavy was one of eight firefighters
who were killed at the fire
when a wall collapsed on them.
The next day firefighters noticed something different on the window Frank had been cleaning. There was a hand print on the pane of glass where he’d been resting his hand when the alarm came in. No one was ever able to get the hand print off the glass. A comparison with the department’s fingerprint records revealed that the impression did indeed belong to Frank Leavy.
Many people suggested that the window pane be removed. But the firefighters objected. Although it was a very grim reminder of the dangers of their profession, it also some how meant Frank was somehow still with them.
Instead of abandoning humanity, Christ returned to the Creator from Whom Christ came. And in that return we’re assured that full understanding of everything humanity might experience is an integral part of God. There is no pain we have that God didn’t have; no grief we can feel that God didn’t feel; no confusion, no sense of hopelessness, no fear, no loneliness that we can find ourselves in that God didn’t know intimately long before we took our first breath. Christ’s ascension didn’t leave the disciples abandoned and alone. You aren’t alone either. Christ knows what you’re going through. And base on that knowledge Christ will provide you the power to do what you must do. You aren’t only a few people. You’re a part of the living and breathing of the body of Jesus Christ. You don’t need to do redevelopment by yourselves. Christ is alive and works with you hand in hand. You don’t work alone toward the goal of a thriving church. Christ works with you, directs you, and empowers you. You faithful few couldn’t make a difference by yourselves. But with Christ’s help you can work miracles in this place.
As I travel to and from Watseka every weekend, I see the wonder of Spring abounding. In the places that a short time ago, were a brown and lifeless, new life springs forth from the trees and from the earth. The same type of wonder can take place here in First Presbyterian Church. For Christ proclaimed you will be Christ’s witness here in Watseka and to the ends of the earth.
Tune in next week; same time; same station. And we’ll talk about the power Christ gives you to make this miracle happen.
To God alone be glory.
Amen.
(Comments to Frank at FRANK.FISHER@ecunet.org )