So, there is a Taoist story about a carpenter and his apprentice:
A carpenter and his apprentice were walking together through a forest. And when they came across a tall, huge, gnarled, old, beautiful oak tree, the carpenter asked his apprentice: "Do you know why this tree is so tall, so huge, so gnarled, so old and beautiful?"
The apprentice looked at his master and said: "No . . . why?"
"Well," the carpenter said, "because it is useless. If it had been useful it would have been cut long ago and made into tables and chairs, but because it is useless it could grow so tall and so beautiful that you can sit in its shade and relax."
I thought of that story this week when reading our Gospel lesson.
When we last met Jesus he was just some really wise dude, sitting on a hill, enrapturing the crowds with a list of “blesseds” and a list of cheek turning rules and a list of parables. And people were kinda digging him and appreciating his irony and wisdom.
But now we are running up against Lent next week, so we have to zoom through Matthew to get to this point of Transfiguration.
A lot has happened in the meantime. Miracles, traveling, Jesus beginning to get under the skin of the leadership, people beginning to wonder if maybe this guy is more than just a teacher, people reminding each other of that event a few years ago at the Jordan River when a voice boomed out of nowhere calling this guy “My Son.”
So much happening is such a short time.
And now Jesus' ministry is nearing its end – and our lives as Christians is about to begin That's all coming soon, but now, at this point in the journey, the disciples just don't really get it. They just don't. They are missing something critical.
And today, in the middle of Jesus' story, the pinnacle in so may ways, that piece is about to fall into place.
And it's this weird, unexplainable event – the Transfiguration. The story is so complicated and confusing, and we see the results: there's a lot of light, Moses and Elijah are so impressed they come down from heaven to witness it, the disciples are beside themselves, and God speaks to everyone.
And it the midst of all this, Peter, probably scared out of his mind at all this hullabaloo, does what some many of us do when we don't know what to do. He gets busy.
"Don't just stand there; do something!" I hear Peter shout. Overwhelmed by the whole event, he does what most of us do in pivotal and poignant moments: carpe diem! Seize the day! Capture the moment! Get out your phone, take pictures, make an Instagram page. Let's get to work! C'mon, guys, put up some tents, we're going to be here a while. James, John, don't just stand there with your mouths hanging open! Get busy! Do something!
If I were Peter, my mind would be going a mile a minute, just like his probably is. Making plans for the good of the kingdom and missing the point all together. Because, that's me sometimes. Actually, that's me a lot of the time.
And that's what I think we should take away from this story of Jesus' Transfiguration. All of that speculation and theology as is beside the point. The real point is there, off to the side, in the form of Peter the Planner. We get so wrapped up in how we should respond to God, how we should be prepared to explain God to others, that we forget the most important miracle of all. And it's this: God Is Present. Period.
God is present in our lives at all times and in all places. And if we'd spend less time looking for him, maybe we'd see him. If we'd spend less time training ourselves to listen for him, maybe we'd hear him.
In our story, Peter is getting so worked up after the main miracle that God has to bring about another miracle – God has to actually say, “Shhhhhhhhhhh.”
We all spend so much time hoping and wanting to be useful to God that we tend to forget that God is pretty good at handling the big things without us. We don't always have to DO. Sometimes it's enough to just be, and in the being, maybe we can handle the little things.
Like that old, gnarled tree, we don't always have to be planks, providing protection from a storm, or firewood giving off warmth and light. Sometimes just being is the point. Because just being provides shade for folks when they need rest, or branches for birds when they need a home. Sometimes in sitting and growing and waiting and being, we let God nurture us into what we are supposed to be.
Look, lots of things are going to be happening in the next few weeks during our Lenten journey. And lots of things are going to be happening in the next few weeks in our church journey. And in our lives out there in the world. That's just how it goes.
And, yes, those things need our attention. There's injustice to check, pain to soothe, love to offer, kindness to proffer, decisions to make, errands to run, people to visit, chores, plans, all of that. It will always be that way. But not always. Not always. Sometimes God calls us to simply witness what God is capable of. And if we don't understand it, or if it frightens us, all that power, well, that's ok. We don't have to actually do anything. Just bear witness.
Over the years I've constantly stood up here and urged us to take some serious time to just sit and be present before God. And I really believe this. God is showing us miracles all the time. We are seeing God's face all the time. God is always at work in the world – and at work here – and we don't always have to explain it or understand it or do anything about it or even respond to it. Sometimes the best thing we can do is be present in it, let it wash over us. And if we are constantly impressing ourselves with how busy we can be, we just might miss it.
But if we'd just settle down, and let God do the work. If we'd just shhhhh when God tells us to Shhhhhhh. In other words, don't just do something! Sit there!
Amen.