The Joy of Futility 1

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children
of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by
the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be
set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory
of the children of God

Advertisers would have us believe that we can be set free from our
bondage to decay, that by eating the right foods, applying the right lotions,
taking the right medicines and supplements, and by having the right
procedures we can halt or even reverse the aging process. We are
surprised when we get sick, when our hair begins to turn grey, and when
our clothes dont seem to fit like they should. We would also like to believe
that we have not been subjected to futility -- that we make a difference in
the world. It can be frustrating when it seems like we dont have a voice,
that no one seems to be listening to us. If we cant even change the little
part of the world that we inhabit, how can we possibly make a difference in
the grand scheme of things?
In this weeks reading from Romans, we are put in our place. The
world does not revolve around us, and it was not created for our pleasure.
We are part of an ecosystem created by God. In North America, most
people, regardless of social status, have access to clean water. That is not
the case everywhere. Imagine humanity and creation groaning together
where water is not present or where it has been poisoned by industrial
waste or because of the sheer number of people living near it. We live in a
place where the soil is rich, but there are places around the world where it
is simply not possible to produce enough food to support people and
wildlife. We live in a place where natural disasters are relatively mild and
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infrequent, and where we usually receive advance warning. There are

many places where hurricanes and flooding, for example, can be
completely devastating. Advance warning may not be available, and even if
it is, there is simply no place to hide. To a great extent, we have mastered
nature here. We expect our crops to grow, and they almost always do. We
expect our livestock to thrive, and it generally does. We expect to be able
to travel whenever and wherever we want, regardless of weather. At least
those of us in the rural areas have a basic understanding of where our food
comes from and retain some of our connection to the soil. Still, the fact that
our fate and the fate of all of creation are intertwined can escape us.
The good news is that these pains are not death throes, but birth
pangs: 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor
pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have
the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. There are a
couple of things about this part of the passage that I would like to hold up:
first of all, our relationship with God is explained as an adoption. Jesus
death and resurrection make us not only brothers and sisters in Christ, but
Christs brothers and sisters -- full heirs to the kingdom of God. Secondly, it
is hope that has saved us. Hope is an interesting word in that it is a verb,
but it isnt really an action. I can hope for rain, but there is really nothing
that I can do to make it rain. I hope that our elected officials can figure out a
way to make healthcare available and affordable for all, but there doesnt
seem to be a way for me to make that happen. It seems to me that hope is
what is left after we have done all that we can do. We plant our fields and
gardens and hope for rain. We send our kids off into the world and hope
that they succeed. Unlike wishing, hoping doesnt preclude additional
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actions. In the example of our children, when they struggle, we dont simply
say, I had hoped that you would do better. Instead, we continue to do
whatever we can to help them.
I would imagine that God hoped that humans would turn out better
and that we would take better care of creation. Even so, God has brought
us into the family business, hope, and has provided us with everything that
we need to keep that business alive and vibrant -- primarily the presence of
the Spirit. Sharing the Spirit is sharing hope. The parable from the gospel is
a good example. The slaves are upset because someone has sown weeds
in the field. They know what the field should look like, and they want to take
immediate action. The master, on the other hand, takes the long view. He
knows that rash action will damage the wheat, so he tells the slaves to be
patient. When the crop is ripe, the weeds will be bound and burned, while
the wheat will be harvested. It is hope that allows the landowner to choose
an appropriate solution. Similarly, we can get impatient for the very reason
that we have an idea of how Gods creation should look and function. We
want to root out evil, we want our inheritance today, we trust ourselves to
take action that is not ours to take. Instead, you are called to trust Gods
plan and to live in hope that all things will be made right. AMEN