Mark 13:24-37             “Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?”

There is a temptation when the going gets rough to forget who and whose we are.

But as we are reminded in Mark's gospel, "Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come."  And we seldom know what form Jesus' presence among us will take.

I was attempting to discern for over a year just where I was being called to serve next.  It had been determined early in 2004 that the agency where I work would leave the Chicago area after nearly a century’s presence.  For personal reasons, I chose not to move further from my family with the agency after the Evanston office would be completely closed.  My decision put me in a situation of having a time-certain maximum time I could serve in the appointment, with no idea what my next position would be.

Many significant professional and relationships have been developed and nurtured me in over 13 years in the appointment.  A valued colleague based in Washington, DC sent me an email in late July to let me know that he had resigned his position and would be moving soon to San Francisco.  The move was the result of a family member receiving a promotion, but that he had no idea what employment he could obtain in California.  That unknown gave him some anxiety.

I later shared with some co-workers that I found myself, in the midst of my personal future remaining uncertain, responding to him.  I assured him that with his skills and experience I had no doubt that he would find himself again serving in an appropriate position.  To which one of my listeners wryly observed "Time to wake up and smell the computer!"

Christ came in an unexpected way at an unanticipated hour in those exchanges.  Even though I didn't anticipate that the time had come for me to experience God's assurance, the Spirit worked through those trusted colleagues to bring it. 

I was reminded that the Spirit still worked in mysterious ways, and not on human time. I was reminded that I was God's child and had been given gifts and talents that still could be used to serve the Body of Christ.  And I was reminded that I needed to let the community be with me during the bad times as well as the good times.