Why Has God Unplugged You?

The 1/22/12 sermon, "Close Calls with Jesus", included a story from Susan Scott, author of Fierce Conversations, about experiences at Cook Paint and Varnish in Kansas City with her boss, Mr. Fred Timberlake, when she was 16 years old. She could type 110 words per minute and used an IBM Selectric typewriter (raise your hand if you used one) with the whirling metal ball. She writes, "During my second week on the job, the Selectric suddenly froze, and I looked up, shocked to see Mr. Timberlake holding the cord after having pulled the plug from the outlet. He was smiling. He handed me a sheet of paper. 'What do you think of this advertising layout, Susan?'"

She looked around, sure that there was another Susan on the payroll whom Mr. Timberlake was addressing. But no, it was her. "My impulse was to shrug and say, 'I don't know. I don't have any experience in advertising.' However, I had the impression that Mr. Timberlake anticipated my response with genuine interest. I didn't want to disappoint my boss, so I thought hard."

Because she had been directly asked, she creatively and thoughtfully shared her impressions from her personal experience. "Mr. Timberlake listened as I spoke. When I stopped, he stood quietly for a moment, then said, 'Remarkable. Thank you, Susan. I'm sending this back to the drawing board.'"

Mr. Timberlake initiated and guided the interaction in such a way to draw out Susan's creative thinking. He called her to get more deeply involved in the life of the company. Here is the conclusion to Susan's story:

Throughout the summer, whenever my Selectric froze, I would smile

and prepare to answer another of Mr. Timberlake's questions.

In his presence, I became a bigger human being.

Every person who worked for Fred Timberlake

would have followed him anywhere.

Jesus unplugged his disciples from their existing roles by calling them to follow him. Nets were dropped by Simon and Andrew, and net mending ceased as James and John left their father and other workers in their boat. They learned and imperfectly practiced new and challenging rules of engagement...Love your enemies; Forgive and you will be forgiven; Deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow; Feed hungry people.

Jesus unplugged them for the work of the Kingdom of God which Jesus announced and lived in person. They became bigger persons in Jesus' presence. And Jesus promised that his disciples, the ones who believe in him, "will also do the works that I do and, in  fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).

Why has God unplugged you? Have you been interrupted in the routines of your life and felt called to respond? An integral part of our walk together as a congregation is to help each other look and listen for such "unplugged moments", and to celebrate the new depths and directions God reveals to us. May you prayerfully consider God's claim upon you through Jesus' call to follow him. And don't be surprised when you are unplugged for the sake of the Kingdom of God.