In a variety of ways and at a variety of levels, the world seems to be spinning dangerously and frighteningly out of control. Environmentally we hear about the growing problem of pollution, ozone depletion, acid rain and a host of other issues we don’t even understand. The news is filled with reports of natural disasters on a grand scale, from hurricanes to earthquakes to drought. Geo-politically, there always seems to be wars and rumors of wars. Ongoing conflicts seem to defy efforts at peace. And somehow we never seem to learn lessons from experiences such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo and East Timor. Our own government seems to be in a constant state of crisis. Figuring out who to trust and what to question could easily become a full-time job. Kids are killing kids in our schools and senseless violence seems to be an ever-growing trend. Closer to home, we have hate groups thriving in our own back yard. And even the Church is not immune from such upheaval. The American Baptist Churches in the Northwest are currently tearing themselves apart over the issue of homosexuality. At this point it is still not clear how much damage will be done before a path to healing can be found. The Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is in the midst of a time of transition, when the old patterns are changing and the new ways have not yet fully emerged. I think one of the reasons such a big deal is being made about the coming of a new millennium (quite apart from the whole Y2K problem) is because so much of life for so many people feels so chaotic and out of control. In many ways this is a very uncomfortable time in which to live.

When faced with such crises, there is often a temptation to withdraw. Life becomes too frightening and overwhelming, so we pull back to what feels safer and more familiar. The news becomes disturbing so we cancel our subscription to the paper and stop watching the evening news. Politics becomes corrupt and self-serving so we stop voting. Regional and General levels of the Church become contentious so we retreat to our local congregation. The local congregation becomes uncomfortable so we change churches or stop attending altogether.

And if we resist the urge to withdraw, we can also find ourselves faced with the temptation to fix it and make it go away as quickly and painlessly as possible. So the Democrats try to get rid of the Republicans, who in turn try to get rid of the Democrats. They both try to pass measures to provide quick and easy solutions to whatever problems are currently occupying the attention of the media. We send food to refugees, even as the violence which forced them to flee in the first place continues to rage on unchecked. In the Church there is scripture quoting and righteous indignation and attempts to reform the structures.

We do not like living in chaos and we want desperately to make it stop by whatever means possible. If that means running away, then so be it. If that means putting a band-aid on it and covering it up, then that is just what has to happen. If that means simply ignoring it and pretending it is not so, then as a last resort we’ll even try that.

But there is another way. Instead of avoiding it, or fixing it, or ignoring it, we might try simply living in it together, with each other and with God. Such a solution requires faith and trust and risk. But the potential reward includes richer, fuller, more creative living. Chaotic and uncertain times, such as those in which we are currently living, are clearly not always pleasant and sometimes quite painful. But they need not be terrifying, if we but remember to invoke the power of community and the power of God to sustain us. Sometimes there simply is no quick and easy way out of the chaos. The healthiest path out is through. When the Hebrew people left the bondage of Egypt, they did not go straight to the Promised Land. If they had, they would not have been ready to truly live in it. Instead they wandered in the chaos of the wilderness for forty years, together with each other and with God, so that they could begin to discover who God was calling them to be.

All indications are that life will continue to be chaotic. Indeed, in some ways it will probably get worse. But there are ways to approach such living which are positive and creative. For one thing, I find it incredibly comforting to note that chaos is the fundamental building block which God uses to create. The creation story in Genesis talks about God calling creation out the chaotic and formless void. Paul reminds the Romans that nothing is beyond the power of God to transform in positive and powerful ways. As the storm began to rage around them in the boat, Jesus’ disciples became unnerved because they forgot who it was who was with them. When we find ourselves in the midst of life as it seems to be spinning out of control, it is helpful to remember that we are not alone and we have not been abandoned. God is with us.

And we are with each other. The power of community cannot be overestimated. The gift of the Church is one of the most significant gifts which God offers us. The Church is by no means perfect. Lots of really bad stuff has been done by the Church in the name of God. But in spite of that, it remains an awesome source of strength and support which would simply not be possible if we each tried to live out our faith alone. At the very least it provides us with someone else to hold onto when the times grow dark and frightening. And at its best we find that we are empowered to reach out and transform the chaos itself because God is at work in our lives together. This past week I participated in a clergy retreat with about 40 of my collegues in the Northwest Regional Christian Church. One of the things we did while we were together was to discuss the sometimes chaotic condition of life in the regional church right now and the frustration of living through such transitional circumstances. I found it comforting simply to be able to name the reality and know that I am not alone in my experience. And in daring to speak the truth out loud we were empowered to begin discovering ideas for changing the reality. It will not happen quickly or easily, but it will happen. Many of us came away with less panic about what the future might hold and more hope that God does indeed remain in our midst.

Life may seem to be spinning out of control, but that is very much a matter of perception. How we approach such times as these will make the difference between running away to hide and venturing forth to change the world. May we remember to draw support from each other and strength from God, who stands with us in the midst of the chaos.