Out Our Way: But that's just ole Autumn! Mark 6:1-6

Out our way, some folks tell tales of great horses doing remarkable feats, and as long as that incredible horse is three states away or lived a hundred years ago, we are ready to accept the story. But put the same animal in your own pasture or paddock and disbelief arises.

Now, I was riding with the Empire ranch folk out in “Wyo-braska” — the sandhills of eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska — when Elsie, the ranch owner, told me the story of an incredible horse she knew.

Every year, there was a 50 mile endurance race across the area and an extremely heavy rider came in with a horse he said could surely make the run. Well, the horse looked strong enough, but with the heavy rider and the fact this was her first time in the race, folks sort of scoffed. As it happens, she not only won the race, at the end, when the vet was checking her over, he announced she wasn’t even breathing hard. Questions were raised about how this was possible, but, in the end, it was clear, this was simply a “super horse.”  

I was duly impressed and said to Elsie,” I’d sure love to see that horse some day!” And Elsie smiled, winked and said, “You already have. You’re riding her!” “But that’s just ole Autumn,” I protested. “Yup. Autumn is that champion ‘super horse.’”

There is the old saying that “familiarity breeds contempt,” and the truth is, we tend to be more likely to accept the testimony of those whom God has used if those folks are far away and distant strangers. Miracles can occur anywhere except here! Thus, you can ride the super champion cross country horse of the century and never know it, because it’s “just old Autumn.”

Jesus worked miracles and did signs and wonders throughout Judea, Galilee and even Samaria — but not in Nazareth, His home town. “God cannot possibly use Him,” they said, “because He’s a local boy ... one of us!” We are perfectly happy with great deeds and miracles somewhere else because once we accept God can and does work in our midst, and may even use us to do His work, our comfort zone is breached. We are no longer free to stay uncommitted. The command,” Follow Me” only allows for two responses — obedience or rejection. We are forced to make a choice and are committed. As it has said, we are all free to choose the direction in our life, but we are not free to choose the consequences. When Christ comes and asks you to follow and serve Him, there are only two possible answers: Yes or No. “Maybe” is no longer an option.

In Nazareth, Jesus was already known for the signs and wonders He had been performing elsewhere, but as long as He stayed elsewhere and out of their comfort zone, they could half-heartedly believe or disbelieve, but never commit. When He came home and forced them to face the truth, they backed away. It was too close and too personal. And so, they blocked His work by refusing to allow it in their own lives. No signs and wonders allowed here! And Jesus sadly accepted their refusal to see, hear or receive the Good News He had brought to the whole world.

Someone noted not only that “seeing is believing,” but also that “believing is seeing.” There are none so blind as they who refuse to see. So, is God not at work around us in our personal spheres? Is His might only to be found in the past or far away? Or is He here in our midst and we just refuse to see Him?

Keep Jesus at a distance and far away and you can be comfortable in being noncommital. But open your eyes to see, ears to hear, and mind to understand and that comfort zone vanishes. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20). He came to Nazareth and they would not open the door, and so He left them to their uncommitted and empty lives. Chances are, He has knocked on our doors a time or two as well, and many of us have opted to ignore Him. We don’t want to complicate our lives with the Living God in our midst, so comfort ourselves that no one was at the door, just our imagination, and He doesn’t really call anyone these days. But He keeps coming back from time to time because He refuses to give up on any of us.

So next time you “imagine” He is knocking on the door because of something someone said, something you read, or something you say really touched your heart, why not go check it out and see? Could Jesus still be around these days? Could the Holy Spirit really empower and transform us? Could God actually call me, of all people, to His service? Could old Autumn really be the champion and superhorse of Goshen County?

Be blessed and be a blessing

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write “Out Our Way.” He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].