"Lost"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on October 15, 2006 at Rollo Congregational UCC in Earlville, Illinois

I have a confession to make: I watch that television show: Lost. Anyone else watch it? I've seen every episode over the last two and now third seasons. I've seen the preview episodes and the compilation episodes. I've been to many of the websites where people discuss theories about the show. I have not traveled to any "Lost" conventions, however. After all, I'm not really into it. (smirk face)

I am intrigued by the characters:

• Jack-- the doctor who wrestles with his temper, his fear of isolation and his guilt over the failures in his life
• Locke -- the survivalist -- and man with the most hope -- who wrestles with a past filled with failure and being "used"
• Kate -- The "girl next door" who wrestles with a past filled with criminal activity and some kind of vigilante behavior.
• Sawyer -- the con-man who struggles with his dishonest past and who is somehow finding a hero buried deep within
• Charlie -- the rock star and drug addict who has never been dependable -- and who has made good and bad decisions on the island
• Mr. Eko -- the warlord who came on board pretending to be a priest and who thought he found redemption but just as soon lost his direction.

There are many more characters on the show -- with more being introduced this week. They don't share everything in common, but each of them has something in their past that holds them back from living their lives fully. Each of them seems to be wrestling with their past -- and maybe they'll confront it and be at peace with before the show finishes.

I'm also intrigued by the title of the program and its multiple meanings

• Lost - As in being abandoned. Nobody knows they're alive and nobody is looking for them (or so they think)
• Lost - as in "lost their way." They all have that thing in their past that has damaged or destroyed them. They haven't confronted their past and made peace with it
• Lost - as in "before being found." They are in the process of finding their way back to wholeness even as they are being sought by people "back home."

• Each of the characters is dealing with Despair
• Each of the characters is dealing with their own struggles and addictions.
• Each of the characters is finding their way back

Today's readings have a similar flavor to the television show.

In the Job reading I see a person in despair. Though Job has not completely given up, he is near the breaking point. He feels lost and abandoned by God.

• (Verse 8)"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; ⁹ on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

He seeks everywhere, yet he feels God is absent. He longs and yearns for God, but can't find any evidence of God

Psalm 22 has more of the same. So many Psalms, instead of being joyful songs, are really blues tunes. They are filled with sadness, anguish and despair. Listen to some of the words again:

• (Verse 1) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

Do you recognize those words at all?

• ⁽Verse 6) But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people.

Both of these readings, instead of describing a peaceful presence of God, describe the reality of anguish, suffering and feeling lost or abandoned. I've felt that way -- as I'm convinced that most have. Like the people portrayed in these passages, I think many of us, if not all, have cried out for God to show up and then been left disappointed when we felt nothing.

I think the kind of pain we have when we feel totally lost and the sense of inability to do anything about it is a place where we can be so ready for God's love and compassion.

I wonder if in the television show the point for each of the characters is to let go of the things they have held so tightly too and what have ultimately been what has the cause of their suffering. I wonder if we're starting to see that as the characters let go of their "stuff" that their journey to peace begins.

Letting go of our "stuff" is something we can learn from these passages, but there has to be more. What else can we learn from these passages that are so filled with sadness, abandonment and despair?

Well, we can acknowledge the reality of feeling lost and abandoned. When we do, we are not the only ones who ever have felt that way. Others do and they are not alone. If we haven't -- chances are we will at some point. It seems that despair is part of the human condition.

But we also have the benefit of knowing more of the story -- the Bible. In it the continuing theme is that God creates -- we mess up -- and God redeems. We're in anguish and despair -- and God redeems. We mess up again -- and God redeems. The process does not end. God never leaves and God always redeems.

However, just saying that doesn't automatically "fix" things for a person who feels lost and abandoned. How do we offer hope in those situations? How do we find hope when we're in those situations?

The first part is easier. We can act with God's love to people who feel lost and abandoned by being present for them. We can be a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. Instead of fixing things we can simply offer unconditional love and acceptance.

The second part is likely more difficult. When we're feeling lost and abandoned we may be able to draw on our memory that God is never absent -- no matter how we feel. If we can't get that far, maybe we can continue to trust in God's presence through our anguish. And if that still doesn't work I believe we can find hope as others reach out to us with God's love.

Another reading that we didn't cover today comes from Mark 10:17-31. In it Jesus tells a rich person, who lived their life following God's commandments, to sell everything they have and then follow him. They couldn't do it. They weren't ready to give up on their stuff and let Jesus be the center.

But here's the good news for all of this morning's characters. At the end of the reading Jesus said, " for God all things are possible."

• Hope in Job's situation was possible for God.
• Hope and redemption in the Psalm writer's anguish and feelings of abandonment was possible for God
• A change in the rich person's inability to give up what was most important and focus on Jesus was possible for God.
• When our situation seems hopeless and we feel lost and abandoned -- Hope is possible for God.

Remember how the Bible goes -- God redeems -- over and over and over again.

So what do we do with all of this?

I've said it already, really, but here's a little more

We can act with God's love to people who feel lost and abandoned by being present for them. We can be a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. Instead of fixing things we can simply offer unconditional love and acceptance. Today we can spend time with a person we know is hurting. We can call them, visit them and be present with them. Spend a moment and think about that person. Make contact with them today -- right after church.

If you feel like you're the one in anguish and despair, you may be able to draw on your memory that God is never absent -- no matter how you feel. You may at least be able to trust in God's presence through your anguish. And as hard as it seems, please seek out a friend who will be present with God's unconditional love and acceptance.

Feeling lost and abandoned -- Being in anguish and despair really are part of the human condition. It is my prayer that through all of our times of anguish and dispair we can remember God's unconditional and unwavering love -- and that trusting in that unconditional and unwavering love, we'll begin the journey "back" and that we'll never truly, completely feel lost.

© 2006 Kirk Moore. All Rights Reserved