Preparing for the Journey
Mark 6:1-13
Private John G. Burnett wrote in his journal on his 80th
birthday, December 11, 1890. He wrote of the events which he observed
on a cold day in 1839—the day when the Indian removal began in
Georgia—the day 14,000 Cherokees began a journey of 1,200 miles on The
Trail of Tears. They had no time to prepare for their journey. An
estimated 4,000 died on the trail from hunger, exposure and disease.
The trail reached from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains to
present-day Oklahoma. One branch of the trail passed through Eureka
Springs, Arkansas. Yesterday I went to Blue Springs so I could read the
account of the Cherokee visit there in March of 1839.
These are Captain Burnett’s words about the beginning of that journey:
One can never forget the solemnity of that
morning. Chief John Ross led in prayer and when the bugle sounded
and the wagons started rolling, many of the children rose to their feet
and waved their little hands good-by to their mountain homes, knowing
they were leaving them forever. Many of these helpless people did
not have blankets and many of them had been driven from home barefooted.
Many began the journey without a single pair of sandals nor a
single tunic. The choice to prepare for the journey had been
taken from them.
As I worked on this sermon, I read many accounts of that historical
event. It cannot be sugar coated. It is a story of injustice and
oppression. It is a story where there is no respect for the dignity of
every human being. Yet, in the midst of harsh reality, I discovered a
story within a story that made me see some light in all that darkness.
I discovered a story that reinforced my belief in the goodness of
people.
The Rev. Samuel Worchester, was a missionary who worked with the
Cherokee Indians before they journeyed on the Trail of Tears. Earlier
he spent time in prison because he refused to leave his post as
Congregational minister to the Cherokees. He was a prophet without
honor in his hometown. He was scorned and imprisoned because of
his beliefs.
He most certainly would have known about the Indian Removal Act of
1835. He probably didn’t realize how abruptly it would be
enforced. Many of the Cherokees were held in prison camps
awaiting their fate. Sometime in that time period, Samuel
Worchester and his wife made a most amazing decision. They and
their young children would make the journey with the Cherokees on what
would become the Trail of Tears. I don’t imagine they had many
worldly possessions. I don’t imagine they had much more time than the
Cherokees did to prepare for the journey. They probably had very
little money and only one pair of shoes per person. Most of their
preparation for the journey probably consisted of prayer.
When Jesus instructed the twelve on how to prepare for their journey, he was pretty specific.
He ordered them to take nothing for their journey
except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but wear to
sandals and not to put on two tunics.
They were to journey forth in faith. They were to leave
their excess baggage behind. And I think Jesus was not just talking
about physical possessions but also about anything that would distract
them from their purpose on that journey. They were to trust in the
hospitality of others yet they were to be prepared for rejection.
And unlike the Cherokees, they had a choice. They could choose to
go forth following the instructions Jesus gave them or they could turn
back and return to their old lives. They chose to proceed.
So they went out and proclaimed that all should
repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who
were sick and cured them.
Isn’t it interesting that their preparation for the journey was
mostly spiritual and mental. They didn’t have a capital campaign
or a special offering. They didn’t obtain extra food or supplies
or clothes for the trip. They didn’t put off the journey until
they were fully ready. They had a choice about whether to make
the journey. When that decision was made, they just began one step and
one day at a time to step forward in faith on an amazing journey.
We can read the Biblical accounts of the Acts of the Apostles as
interesting history or we can read them as we seek to find ourselves in
those stories.
Yesterday is past and we can’t change that even though we can learn
from it. Some of our history is not so good and some is wonderful. The
Trail of Tears really happened. The ministry of Samuel Worchester also
really happened. We especially remember today the men and women who
have given of themselves and sometimes their lives to assure that we
can choose our journeys. That really happened and is happening still.
Men and women continue to put themselves in harm’s way so we may enjoy
freedom and the ability to choose.
Tomorrow isn’t here yet. We can’t control how it will unfold.
We just have today to prepare for our journey. We can choose to
let go of our excess baggage. We can choose to share our extra
possessions instead of tightly clinging to them. We can prepare
our hearts and our minds for our spiritual journey. We can step
out into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit who walks with
us today.
Thanks be to God that we have choices. Let freedom ring for all
as we journey to find justice and peace for all. Let the journey
begin.
Amen.
The Rev. Betsy Porter
St. James’ Episcopal Church
Eureka Springs, AR
5th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9)
July 5, 2009