Parallel Universes

Pentecost 18C  10/16/11

Matthew 22:15-22, (Isa 45:1-7, 1Thess 1:1-10)

 

Grace and peace to you from the one who was, and is, and is to come, Jesus.

 

Some people like science fiction—Flash Gordon (not Larry Gordon), Alien, Star Trek (that…old….favorite), and a lot of people like Star Wars (Little Brian Meldrum does a wicked good Yoda impression, will you do it for us Brian?). There’s so many others—I don’t care to name them, however, because, you see, I prefer science non-fiction.

 

You know. Like Nova, and National Geographic, and the Discovery Channel, and quantum physics, and super-colliders, and black holes, and stem cells and the human genome, and string theory, and Dr. Who…all right not him, but Dr. Steven Hawking and Dr. Stephen J. Gould, and Dr. Albert Einstein, and Dr. Livingston (I presume), and just about anything that has on it the fresh morning dew of innovative thinking deposited by uniquely gifted minds that go beyond the mundane and known into what can’t be seen, but can only be extrapolated, conjectured, postulated, theorized, and hypothesized.

 

I like to be fascinated by science—blinded by it. For me, science is exciting. At least the fields that I mentioned are—to me. I like physics, because what the scientists are working on is so mind-blowingly novel it gives me goose bumps. Sub-atomic particles traveling faster than the speed of light (impossible you say? You’re right! Fascinating!). Earth Science, on the other hand—boring! Except maybe when an earthquake hits in New England.

 

Let me tell you about a few of the “science non-fiction”  articles and books I’ve dipped into recently. I read a book called Sync (not like kitchen sink, synchronized) that was all about how the universe from mini to mega tends to sync up. Fireflies in a meadow will begin flashing randomly, but will eventually fall into a synchronized rhythm. Traffic jams are caused by one or more drivers dropping out of sync with the others. Here’s an experiment in sync—we’re going to clap our hands faster and faster and faster and see what happens. [the clapping finds a moment of sync.] Cool, ay?

 

Another jaw dropper: Scientists trying to go beyond Einstein’s thinking to find what they call “the theory of everything.” That which would tie together various laws of relativity and particle physics into one neat bundle—they have come up with string theory. Which VERY basically says that the electrons and quarks within atoms are not 0 dimensional, but rather like a string. A string that can oscillate at different frequencies on differing positions on the string—much like a piano string. These vibrating strings are thought to predate the big bang.

 

Which is cool enough by itself, but then mix theology into that sub-atomic, scientific stew, and then it really gets interesting. For instance add to this string theory the words of Genesis 1:1 and you’re in for something that will knock your argyle sox off!. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, …and the universe was a formless void and the spirit of God hovered over it. The word translated in the NIV as hovered–   rachaph—means also to shake, tremble, or vibrate! Like a string in string theory! I think that too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Is it possible that somehow in the formation of the creation story, a scientific hypothesis was foreshadowed by the inspired language passed down over hundreds of years? Could the theory of everything also tie up some loose ends in the debate between physicists and creationists?

 

Alright, alright—that’s taking her into tabloid territory. Just found it fascinating. Like the singularity, which is a futurist theory  put out there by the same fella who invented and marketed synthesizers as  keyboards. Whose name is on our keyboard – Kurzweil. Kurzweil’s idea is that, taking into account the exponentially growing technology experienced in the last century, with new more powerful and faster computer processors coming into being faster and faster, it is only a matter of time before computer-like entities will take over the G progression from limited humans. Thus speeding up the process beyond . The singularity occurs when human kind, with technology, is transformed, civilization ceases to exist, a new world order is established and…humans  becomes immortal. It’s supposed to happen in 2045.

 

At the trumpet’s blast all will be transformed. I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The  kingdom of God is near. Those who believe will never die…Strange how the theory mirrors the scriptures/ But again, that’s just coincidence, right? But it’s science!

 

One more—last one I promise! M-Theory. It has something to do with strings and their varied vibrations. I couldn’t even begin to explain it—but conjecturally it makes possible multiverses. Which is to say “universes,’ if to say that were not an oxymoron in itself. Bottom line there might be more to the universe then what we can detect—our universe may be only a wart type extrusion from a larger universe. Kind of like when you squeeze a balloon to make a giraffe. And M theory also postulates the existence of at least 11 other dimensions—parallel universes which occur simultaneously or just seconds apart from our reality. Making time travel possible and perhaps also providing humanity with an enigmatic, yet esoteric, ethereal escape hatch from our dying dimension to an alternate parallel universe where things haven’t gotten messed up.

 

Eden? Heaven? You decide. And the idea shouldn’t make you shake your head and say to yourself, “I think he’s taking too many of those Parkinson’s drugs!” First because I’m not. And second because we all live in a parallel universe already. I’ll say it again. You are already in an alternate reality, a parallel universe, where things are quite different from the way they used to be—heck, you are different too.

 

This dimension you have entered is not the Twilight Zone (Kids—that was a early TV drama—nothing whatsoever to do with vampires!)  You entered it by being re-born from above. With your baptism, you changed address from THE WORLD, to THE KINGDOM OF GOD. You are in the world, but things are viewed from a different perspective—not of time, but of relationship. You’re not in Kansas anymore, kid. Things work different.

 

Like money. Today’s gospel is a perfect example of how something that’s odious (taxes) in the world is transformed in the parallel universe of the gospel. The Pharisees seek to entrap Jesus by trying to force him into a verbal gaffe via a damned if you do, damned if you don’t query. They ask Jesus if they should pay their taxes. Taxes were even less popular in Jesus’ setting as the money went to fund Roman pork projects like “aqueducts to nowhere,” instead of spending it right there in Israel! Plus the money had Caesar’s likeness on it and an inscription referring to him as Deus—God.

 

Jesus doesn’t shy away from the question because he knows the answer. Money is different in the kingdom dimension. Roman money goes to Rome, and when in Rome, it does what the Romans do. That’s a Roman deal—give it to the Roman head on the coin. And then the kicker. While you’re  at it give to God what is God’s—that how the kingdom rolls.

 

But there’s more!

 

In the kingdom, you don’t go first—unless you have been last. Been oppressed? Inequity is redressed. Were meek? No longer a geek. Hungry, thirsty, naked before? In the kingdom there’s enough and more.

 

The “rules” of society don’t apply here. Just as in last week’s gospel the wedding invitees were replaced by the riff-raff and the goody-two-shoes of the village, the unexpected ones play a pivotal role. Cyrus, war Lord of the great Persian Empire, no friend to the people of God, was used even so by God to restore his people to their former freedom. God creates weal and woe, light and darkness, pain and joy—and somehow, someway they fit together in the kingdom. God is in control because God is not in control. Drop any of the worldly ways that still cling to you, as the waters of baptism cleansed you of sin and opened the veil between the kingdom of earth and the kingdom of heaven.

 

It isn’t an escape. We don’t enter the kingdom to dodge problems and spare ourselves misery and heartache and violence. Hardship is still part of daily life. But your perspective on it is different. Whereas before you roamed the earth alone, looking out only for your own good, now in the kingdom your thoughts and heart are for others. Instead of clawing one’s way up the ladder of self-fulfillment, clambering over the fallen bodies of those you only see as competitors, you hold the ladder for others, pick them up when they fall, and work together to make sure that all are fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

 

And just because there are some not presently living in the kingdom, doesn’t mean that we ignore them, or Lord it over them. For they are others too. They may be of the world, but the earth is the Lord’s and all there is in it. Render to the emperor what belongs to emperor. And to God what is God’s. God created all, there is no us and them—only us.

 

That’s reality I can get behind. Some people might call it heaven, but it’s now. Some people may refuse to acknowledge the existence of Gods kingdom here on earth. True it’s presence on earth is blocked by human sin, making transformation like static on a radio without an antenna. But behind it all and sometimes breaking through to the forefront with deafening clarity the kingdom of God is revealed through the actions of those who are anointed like Jesus to do God’s will—no matter who they are.

 

There is a parallel universe—but we are not slicing apart the formulae of modern physics to get in. That universe—that new Jerusalem—is God in Christ Jesus defying the laws of nature to unify the multiverse—to set the clock back, to set sin on its head, and to set up life in a new shining glory of God. And everything and God will be all in all. And the Spirit of God with hover over what was chaos, and hum.

Living Together:
Finishing each other’s sentences

One (just one!) of the annoying things about Parkinson’s is that everything slows down and gets clumsy. For instance, just buttoning my shirt takes, well…more time than it used to. The left sleeve and neck are almost impossible sometimes. Lots of other simple and more complicated tasks, like cutting up food, typing, and writing, are now more difficult for me and take such a length of time that I tend to avoid them when I can. Speaking is sometimes challenging, as sentences get tangled and the words I’m looking for evade me.

The temptation for family members and others is to jump in there and help. Seeing the annoyance on my face, it seems that the most kind thing to do is to button that button, slice that steak, feign understanding and/or supply the missing thought or word. Makes sense. It helps me. It satisfies the compelling need to assist compassionately. And, let’s face it, it saves time and that “embarrassed for you” feeling. In a subtextual way, help is more often offered to meet our own agenda—a product of our emotional response to disabilities interacting with a lack information about them.

Strange, because “finishing each other’s sentences” is most often seen as a symbol of a deep simpatico. And yet, truth be told, when we do that it’s more indicative of our impatience and desire to dominate the conversation than of a loving, caring mind meld. So, one needs to be aware of from where the need to jump in comes. And if it comes from our needs and not theirs, we should rethink our intervention.

Check back at the pantry for part two of this topic…

Living Together:
Finishing each other’s sentences

One (just one!) of the annoying things about Parkinson’s is that everything slows down and gets clumsy. For instance, just buttoning my shirt takes, well…more time than it used to. The left sleeve and neck are almost impossible sometimes. Lots of other simple and more complicated tasks, like cutting up food, typing, and writing, are now more difficult for me and take such a length of time that I tend to avoid them when I can. Speaking is sometimes challenging, as sentences get tangled and the words I’m looking for evade me.

The temptation for family members and others is to jump in there and help. Seeing the annoyance on my face, it seems that the most kind thing to do is to button that button, slice that steak, feign understanding and/or supply the missing thought or word. Makes sense. It helps me. It satisfies the compelling need to assist compassionately. And, let’s face it, it saves time and that “embarrassed for you” feeling. In a subtextual way, help is more often offered to meet our own agenda—a product of our emotional response to disabilities interacting with a lack information about them.

Strange, because “finishing each other’s sentences” is most often seen as a symbol of a deep simpatico. And yet, truth be told, when we do that it’s more indicative of our impatience and desire to dominate the conversation than of a loving, caring mind meld. So, one needs to be aware of from where the need to jump in comes. And if it comes from our needs and not theirs, we should rethink our intervention.

Check back at the pantry for part two of this topic…

The annoying thing about Parkinson's Disease (as if there were only one annoying thing)is that it slows you down. Getting dressed, tying a shoe, eating a steak, walking to the mailbox, typing this post - all take me an interminable length of time. But I want to go fast! Everything else around me (you included) is going at a breakneck speed. It frustrates that I am left in your dust sometimes. Not to blame you--you're only doing what I want to.

But, coordination is off and fine motor skills dulled and repetitive tasks devolve the longer one tries to keep them going. PD is a motion disease after all--I guess slowing motion is the least of what could be now, and eventually may well be later on.

What good can be drawn from this PD millstone around my neck, slowing me down? Looking on the real thin positive side, it could work out that as I slow down physically and mentally, and hopefully adapt to it, and live into my lightning-less-ness mode,I will model ways for you to consciously slow down and see and hear the things you don't at warp 3. I would like to show you the "back roads" you could take instead of always zipping along on the interstate. To be slow with your family. To put on the brakes at work and see it as a vocation that you can enjoy. To let God slowly fill you and your spirit over time--like a fine wine.

You won't win any races like this, but it's something. Now if you'll excuse me--I'm going to watch the snow melt for awhile!

The annoying thing about Parkinson's Disease (as if there were only one annoying thing)is that it slows you down. Getting dressed, tying a shoe, eating a steak, walking to the mailbox, typing this post - all take me an interminable length of time. But I want to go fast! Everything else around me (you included) is going at a breakneck speed. It frustrates that I am left in your dust sometimes. Not to blame you--you're only doing what I want to.

But, coordination is off and fine motor skills dulled and repetitive tasks devolve the longer one tries to keep them going. PD is a motion disease after all--I guess slowing motion is the least of what could be now, and eventually may well be later on.

What good can be drawn from this PD millstone around my neck, slowing me down? Looking on the real thin positive side, it could work out that as I slow down physically and mentally, and hopefully adapt to it, and live into my lightning-less-ness mode,I will model ways for you to consciously slow down and see and hear the things you don't at warp 3. I would like to show you the "back roads" you could take instead of always zipping along on the interstate. To be slow with your family. To put on the brakes at work and see it as a vocation that you can enjoy. To let God slowly fill you and your spirit over time--like a fine wine.

You won't win any races like this, but it's something. Now if you'll excuse me--I'm going to watch the snow melt for awhile!

The title of this post is a bit ironic. What I will be talking about today is the equilibrium that I need to seek between being independent and dependent. That's the "balancing act."

But with Parkinson's, just moving about is an act requiring concentration and adaptation--because it effects your sense of balance. I don't know how--it just does. And it's beginning to effect me a little bit. Not so much that you'd notice--yet. I just have to be a little more cognizant of where my feet are in relativity to my torso!

Back to the premise--the balancing act. After a while living with a challenge like PD, I find it easier, though embarrassing sometimes, to get help or not do something at all. But I really want to adapt and do it myself--I know that's what I want and what's a better response to the PD's move. Lately however, I've been experiencing a twinge (emotional, not physical)when I subconsciously expect the help or to be excused from something I find troublesome to do. Am I starting to feel entitled to special treatment? Cause I don't want that!

Can you see how this is a balance issue? I can see how our relationship will go out of kilter if I feel that way and you let me. But I can see me on the light end of the relationship scale if you or I try to ignore the situation and not support each other (which is what we're supposed to be doing anyhow).

Maintaining a good balance is one way we can live together with eyes and hearts wide open. Open to what is...and what is possible for us together!

The title of this post is a bit ironic. What I will be talking about today is the equilibrium that I need to seek between being independent and dependent. That's the "balancing act."

But with Parkinson's, just moving about is an act requiring concentration and adaptation--because it effects your sense of balance. I don't know how--it just does. And it's beginning to effect me a little bit. Not so much that you'd notice--yet. I just have to be a little more cognizant of where my feet are in relativity to my torso!

Back to the premise--the balancing act. After a while living with a challenge like PD, I find it easier, though embarrassing sometimes, to get help or not do something at all. But I really want to adapt and do it myself--I know that's what I want and what's a better response to the PD's move. Lately however, I've been experiencing a twinge (emotional, not physical)when I subconsciously expect the help or to be excused from something I find troublesome to do. Am I starting to feel entitled to special treatment? Cause I don't want that!

Can you see how this is a balance issue? I can see how our relationship will go out of kilter if I feel that way and you let me. But I can see me on the light end of the relationship scale if you or I try to ignore the situation and not support each other (which is what we're supposed to be doing anyhow).

Maintaining a good balance is one way we can live together with eyes and hearts wide open. Open to what is...and what is possible for us together!

The preparations for my upcoming vacation have been multitudinous. First we did research, then shopped for good prices, then worked out the dates--including getting a supply preacher to cover me for the Sundays I'll be gone. And that was just the reservation! The next phase was getting what we needed for the trip. New suitcase, some clothing, reading material, and plenty of this and that! Then, I always insist we leave a clean home so we don't came back to jobs to do. So a trip to the dump, some vacuuming, and straightening up. Of course life goes on around our vacation, so we need to prepay some bills, stop the mail, and give the plants a good watering. So much to do to get ready to do nothing!

But it's all worth it when you're finally ON vacation. (right?)

In the movie "What About Bob?" Bill Murray plays Bob, a neurotic man who depends too heavily on his new therapist, played by Richard Dreyfuss. The therapist, who is leaving that day for his vacation home in New Hampshire, recommends that Bob "take a vacation from his problems." Trite, and it doesn't work out the way the therapist envisioned--Bob shows up at his vacation home and with the help of the doctor's family, Bob experiences self-discovery and healing. While the therapist goes off the deep end!

I plan on taking a vacation from my problem (parkinson's) while on my vacation. It will take some preparation too. Handing it over to God to bear for a while. Setting up medications ahead of time, so dispensing them is easier. Packing clothing that's easy to put on (no buttons). And depending on my more gregarious wife to lead me into activities that enable self-dicovery, making new friends, and are just plain fun.

I'm not denying my condition. I'm just going to vacate that place where it's a constant anxiety. It'll be there when I get back. Today is enough for me for a while. The gospel I won't be preaching on this Sunday says, don't worry--instead seek the kingdom of God. So that's what I'll do this vacation in a vacation. That, and eat pizza.

I'll send you a postcard from the kingdom!

The preparations for my upcoming vacation have been multitudinous. First we did research, then shopped for good prices, then worked out the dates--including getting a supply preacher to cover me for the Sundays I'll be gone. And that was just the reservation! The next phase was getting what we needed for the trip. New suitcase, some clothing, reading material, and plenty of this and that! Then, I always insist we leave a clean home so we don't came back to jobs to do. So a trip to the dump, some vacuuming, and straightening up. Of course life goes on around our vacation, so we need to prepay some bills, stop the mail, and give the plants a good watering. So much to do to get ready to do nothing!

But it's all worth it when you're finally ON vacation. (right?)

In the movie "What About Bob?" Bill Murray plays Bob, a neurotic man who depends too heavily on his new therapist, played by Richard Dreyfuss. The therapist, who is leaving that day for his vacation home in New Hampshire, recommends that Bob "take a vacation from his problems." Trite, and it doesn't work out the way the therapist envisioned--Bob shows up at his vacation home and with the help of the doctor's family, Bob experiences self-discovery and healing. While the therapist goes off the deep end!

I plan on taking a vacation from my problem (parkinson's) while on my vacation. It will take some preparation too. Handing it over to God to bear for a while. Setting up medications ahead of time, so dispensing them is easier. Packing clothing that's easy to put on (no buttons). And depending on my more gregarious wife to lead me into activities that enable self-dicovery, making new friends, and are just plain fun.

I'm not denying my condition. I'm just going to vacate that place where it's a constant anxiety. It'll be there when I get back. Today is enough for me for a while. The gospel I won't be preaching on this Sunday says, don't worry--instead seek the kingdom of God. So that's what I'll do this vacation in a vacation. That, and eat pizza.

I'll send you a postcard from the kingdom!

You don't really have to say anything out of the ordinary.

You might offer some help if they're struggling with a coat or a serving dish.
You might ask, "How is it for you today?" If you really want to know.
You might tell them they're in your prayers. Better yet you could offer one!

But there's no good thing to say to make them feel better, and it's not your obligation to try. Just being there speaks loudly enough.

About the most candid and truthful reaction to finding out I had PD came from a fellow preacher in Maine. He said some hopeful words, but summed it up with, "It stinks to be you." That rang true for me. Although sometimes it doesn't.

What can I, a PD person, say to you. I can reveal it to you. I can say, "Sorry for the shaking arm--I have PD. Not an excuse, not an identity. But a fact about me. People may be uncomfortable hearing it (and not know what to say!), but they're going to have to deal with my PD too, so it's only fair that they know about it.

One thing we can both say: God be with us as we deal with illness.