Parable 38 - Tension

Shortly after midnight, Clara began cleaning. The wedding reception was winding down. About a dozen people were left in the tent. When the bride and groom had left, they said to everyone, “We leave you in charge. Enjoy yourselves.” That was a couple of hours ago. Clara had started clearing off the tables. There were no caterers for this small, backyard wedding reception.

About a half hour later, Clara had sorted all the bottles and cans into a recycling bin. She had thrown out all the paper plates and removed the plastic table cloths. “Let’s get this place cleaned up,” she said to the one remaining group sitting at the uncleared table.

“We’re good,” one of the guys said.

“It’s just that,” Clara replied, “look at the sky. It’s gonna rain soon. We need to get these tables and chairs into the garage before it storms.”

“Give it a rest. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“I really think it needs to be done now. Rick and Nancy will lose the deposit on this stuff if it gets soaked.” Clara wasn’t convincing them. She added, “This tent is not going to hold. Let’s just get it done and move the party inside.”

They mocked her. “Ohhh, let’s move the party inside. Who made you in charge anyway?”

Clara didn’t want a confrontation. They were all friends. She said, “I’m not trying to be bossy, but I really think this would help out Rick and Nancy. Taking care of this is a kind of wedding present.”

“So ruining a good party is a wedding present! Boy, you’re a lot of fun.”

“Take a look at what I have done. I’ve cleared all the other tables. I’ve sorted everything out, except for the stuff on your table.”

“You’re not the boss.”

Clara reminded them, “The last thing Nancy said was that we were all in charge. So why should you be mad if I try to do something nice for her and her new husband?”

Meditation

If Jesus got in hot water for doing good works and acknowledging God as his Father, we can well expect to have moments of tension in our own lives. In today’s scripture, the crowd is ready to stone Jesus. When he questions them why, they explain to him that it’s not because of his good works, but because he calls himself the Son of God.

He healed the sick, let the lame walk, and the blind see. That wasn’t enough to convince many of the people.

In our story today, Clara isn’t having much luck with her crowd. Cleaning the tables off, sorting out all the cans and bottles, and trying to help out the newlyweds is not enough to inspire the others to help.

All of us have similar situations. Tension exists. We can be on either side of the story.

We might not want to help, or believe, or lift a finger, except we might also be willing to pick up a stone to throw at those who challenge us. Or, we may feel persecuted, attacked, not listened to, misunderstood, overworked, and generally at a loss for what to do next.

Jesus escaped the crowd and retreated back to the place where he was baptized by John.

Clara decided she wasn’t going to fight about it. She began rolling the round tables into the garage by herself.

Before she finished, the party broke up, and others silently began to help her.

By the time the storm hit, all the tables and chairs were safely in the garage, and Clara was fast asleep.

May you find rest in your Lenten experience, as well.

Water the seed and ask yourself...

What is the current tension in my life?