A Change In Appearance
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
Not too long ago, I was summoned again to appear for Jury Duty. I must admit that this is not my favorite activity. The last few times that I have appeared at my County Court House, the procedure entails being called in by number to sit in the court room. I found myself sitting in a pew with others looking ahead at the accused party and the two lawyers representing the individual. The lawyers were asking questions of the potential jurors. One attorney looked at me and asked “ Are you retired, Sir ? “ I replied,” No, I am still working, and I plan to continue to work for the next several years.” I then thought, “What a presumptuous question ? , Do I have that “ retired “ look ? I had dressed professionally that day when I attended the court. Why would anyone question whether someone was working if they were older ?
Many cultural observers have noted that we live in a youth -obsessed culture. The goal for some is to strive to attain beauty and to utilize all mechanisms whether it be liposuction, plastic surgery, botox, or testosterone therapy in order to regain that Ponce De Leon youthful edge.
Of course, corporations do not make it easier for older people to survive, let alone thrive in the work place. A good friend of mine told me recently that when her husband was working as a television news reporter, that the on-going ritual was for him to use hair color to eradicate any gray hair and any hint at aging, to ensure continued employment.
We know that as we age our appearance changes. Some of us grow taller, and then some of us shrink. Others of us have more gray in our hair, some of us may gain more weight. I know that I don’t look the same as when I was in my 30’s. But then again, after going through a tumultuous separation from active duty as a Navy Chaplain in the late 1980’s, during the Gramm- Rudman- Hollins draw down of the Reagan era, I never again retained that lean and hungry frame.
Life as an older worker is not easy. It can be a very anxiety provoking experience. One of my students, who is over 50, recently observed:
“ I hope that I can get a job with the government. There may be a better chance that I won’t experience any age discrimination. “
Recently, Propublica spotlighted treatment of older workers at IBM:
“ The company reacted with a strategy that, in the words of one confidential planning document, would “ correct seniority mix.” It slashed IBM’s U.S. workforce by as much as three-quarters from its 1980’s peak, replacing a substantial number with younger, less-experienced and lower-paid workers and sending many positions overseas. Propublica estimates that in the past five years alone, IBM has eliminated more than 20,000 American employees ages 40 and older, about 60 percent of its estimated total U.S. job cuts during those years. “ https://features.propublica.org/ibm/ibm-age-discrimination-american-workers/
One may ask, given what we observe in the world, make that the working world, what does the new life in the Resurrection of Jesus mean for me and for us ?
Luke describes this curious story of Jesus appearing “in — new form. “ This account is one of the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus.
The gospel writer tells us that the disciples were “startled and frightened “ when they saw Jesus, thinking that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus then says to the disciples:
“ Why are you troubled and why do doubts rise in your minds ? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself . Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have “ ( Luke 24: 37–39 )
These words come near the end of Luke’s Gospel. The story up until now could have ended in death, grief and mourning. Jesus had been killed, the followers had been dispersed. The religious and political authorities that were threatened by the implications of Jesus’ message regarding “the Kingdom Of God “ were committed , in the words of Eric Clapton, “to killing it before it grows. “ ( I Shot The Sheriff ).
Yet, we have this appearance of Jesus to his bewildered followers. He even asks the disciples, “Do you have anything here to eat ? “They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. “ ( Luke 24: 42–43).
Jesus makes it a point to say to these disciples and to us :
“ I’m not going away from you as a reality.
I intend to be with you through all time. “
The gospel passage here does not elaborate on what type of time frame we are talking about. Did these events all occur in one day and then the next day another series of events occurred? Or did these events occur gradually over a period of time maybe weeks, months, even years? The text doesn’t hint nor does it tell us directly the duration of the time frame.
What we do know is that for the early followers of Jesus this new life experienced was so profound that it caused them to interact differently with one another and helped them conceptualize their mission as being “ people of the Way.
Again, the people of the Way will continue to grow in size and influence within the confines of Hellenistic Judaism until around 88 AD when an organizational demarcation occurs which will mark the beginning of what will become the Jesus worshipping community.
Jesus reminds his audience regarding why these events have occurred:
“Then he opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures. He told them “This is what is written. The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem to all the nations. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. “ ( Luke 24: 45–48 ).
According to the Propublica article:
“ IBM has long been aware of the damage its job cuts can do to people. In a series of internal training documents to prepare managers for layoffs in recent years, the company has included this warning:
“ Loss of a job… often triggers a grief reaction to what occurs after a death “ ( Ibid )
During the late 1980’s when there was recession and loss of jobs, particularly white-collar jobs, the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, Il opened its doors and resources and literally staffed an employment assistance program within the church. They had corporate executives and other staff volunteers working with displaced workers in Chicago, Il to help with resume writing, making appropriate connections with other companies and resources geared to getting these people employed again.
Yes, there was another change of appearance. There was another declaration of others saying “I ‘m not going away, I’m not going to slink off and die. No, I’m going to stand and move forward. “
There are some constant factors in life. We will find ourselves growing older, and hopefully wiser. There will be the constant challenge to be “current “ with what is happening in the world, especially the work world , and how we can best adjust and position ourselves to be marketable as possible regarding our livelihood.
Continuing education and curiosity can assist us in the goal of being productive in our work.
But the other major curative factor is that we don’t have to travel this road alone. We can gather with others who find themselves, later in life, still wanting to be active participants in our vocational and professional careers.
Here again the Church can provide a powerful oasis of refreshment, containment, encouragement and motivation that can allow movement towards the next phase of the human life cycle.
The Resurrection changed the appearance of Jesus -to the Resurrected Christ. The Easter event also changed the lives of those who were followers of Jesus, galvanizing them into a worshipping and service community extending the grace and love of Christ to others.
The Resurrection Of Jesus can also change our appearance in life, from that which maybe appears to be foreshortened, limited in opportunity to embracing a fuller wider vision of human life and community.
When you drive a car, there are two ways of looking, one is looking in the rear-view mirror and the other is out the windshield.
As people of faith, as followers of Jesus with our faith grounded in the reality of the Resurrection, may we be people who do not dwell on looking in the rearview mirror, but instead look out the broad wide windshield in anticipation of the new life that God gives us in Jesus Christ.
