Dt.34 Sermon Oct 23

find this conclusion to the story of Moses to be heartbreaking. He gets a vision of the future and a view of the Promised land, a smaller view of the tour of the universe given to Job, but he cannot cross over. Is it possible that his death opens the way for others to enter (Ex. 1:37, 3:26, 4:21)? Dennis Olson writes that Moses died ahead of the people. This could be a good device to look at one’s life and see how we react to unfinished work, emotional ties, and even dreams. Part of our envy and frank dislike of the great is that it pushes us to look at our own lives. Even if lack the courage to do so, we know that our lives will seem to fall short of their, and if truth be told the expectations we have of ourselves. Even if we achieve our goals, even some of our dreams, we may well find that it still doesn’t seem to be enough. such is the ravening maw of human covetousness.

Moses is in great shape (but see 31:2) This could be one of the few times where god does take a life. The text emphasizes the words about Moses at the end are almost the same as applied to the mighty acts of God. All right, but God is working through a human being, even one like Moses. We can be God;s agents even if we are not Moses or even Joshua.

The people mourn for the designated period, and then they move on to another stage in the destiny of this new generation.Joshua is the new leader, and acknowledged as such, even though he is not, not, Moses. It is a hard thing to follow a great leader. People may try to claim their mantle, such as the candidates scrambling to claim President Reagan's. The lasting legacy of great leaders is that they imprison current leaders with the memories and influence of their years, even if the situation on the ground has changed radically. In churches, we often find pastor Goode, the embodiment of the church’s success, and pastors encounter that ghost all of the time.

We do well to reflect on a life well lived and still a life with unfinished business. Even if we have achieved goals, we may well have unfulfilled dreams. As Springsteen said, “is a dream a lie that doesn't come true, or is it something worse?” Langston Hughes: “what happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun..or does it just sag like a heavy load?”

What are some things we should attend to? In facing our own demise, basic things such as Power of attorney and planning our own funeral needs. As we contemplate our own end, we can
reach out to heal some emotional wounds or attend to some spiritual matters. Maybe you have a
bucket list? (helicopter ride in St Louis will take care of one of my flying ones as I have been in a balloon and a glider.)It is important to me to keep working on two writing projects that are well underway.

I got into a bit of an argument with a friend of mine over a seminary bringing in the writer Marcus Borg. I think that his audience is a bit beneath a seminary audience, but she likes and respects his work. I think it annoyed me, in part, because, it makes me reflect on my own slow slog in trying to write some projects and my put down is bred of envy and personal frustration. Yet, even as we never finish our goals or meet our dreams, God accepts us, loves us.That is complete.