The Beginning

November 18^th, 2012        “The Beginning”      Rev. Heather Jepsen

(Mark 13:1-8)

the beginning

four in the morning

wide awake

sudden sharp stabbing pain

what is it?

what is happening to me?

I think I am going to be sick

great buildings

great stones

great man made world

Teacher, do you see it?

yes student,

but do you see it?

not one stone will be left,

all thrown down

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

surprise and shock

joy and excitement

fear and trepidation

is this finally the day?

I must make it through this pain

to reach the promised hope

when?

what are the signs?

how will we know?

famine

earthquake

hunger

flood

poverty

hurricane

starvation

storm

a tidal wave

of suffering people

look

do you see?

not one stone will be left

all will be thrown down

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

 

in the car

headed to the hospital

counting contractions

every 8 minutes

every 6 minutes

every 4 minutes

hold on here comes one

it won’t be long now

 

in our world

headed to the end of things

counting conflicts

nation against nation

kingdom against kingdom

wars and rumors of wars

hold on here comes one

it won’t be long now

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

there will be pain

there will be suffering

there will be fear

there will be labor

but there will be joy in the end

there will be wars

there will be rumors

there will be those that lead you astray

there will be signs you see

there will be signs you miss

I will come again

the end is still to come

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

9 months of hope

9 months of anticipation

9 months of wonder

9 months of fear

I have ripened like fruit on the vine

ripened until bursting

waiting for the day

the hour

the moment

the sign

the beginning of the labor pains

2000 years of hope

2000 years of anticipation

2000 years of wonder

2000 years of fear

we have ripened to the point of spoiling

sweet sticky fruit on the vine

waiting and watching

for you coming on the clouds

is this the moment?

is this the hour?

is this the beginning of the labor pains?

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

the wonder and mystery of birth

can not happen without suffering

can not happen without pain

can not happen without tearing the body

every new life

enters the world

in tears

the wonder and mystery of God

is working its way out through suffering

is working its way out through pain

can not happen without tearing his body

can not happen without tears

his tears

our tears

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

with wars

with rumors

with violence

with fear

the world labors on

with famine

with earthquake

with flood

with fire

the world labors on

with pain

with suffering

with mystery

with hope

the world labors on

with anticipation

with energy

with love

with relief

the world labors on

since the beginning of time

our earth spins towards its end

it groans on its axis

heavy with the weight of our tears

pregnant with the hope of millions

ripe for the picking

all for a purpose

part of the plan

pain leads to relief

fear leads to joy

shock leads to wonder

this is all just the beginning

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning

of the birth pangs

anticipation

energy

fear

will it hurt?

will I make it through?

the baby is coming

will I survive?

how much pain will I be able to take?

shock

surprise

wonder

and relief

is this the day?

is this the hour?

will we survive?

how much pain will we be able to take?

we have waited so very long

where are you God?

do not be alarmed

these things must take place

this is but the beginning