I do. I’m often struck by the way we do so much – with our clothes, our hair, our make-up, the products we buy, the cars we drive – so much to demonstrate our sophistication. Yet at the end of the day we are so basic. We may fill our shopping basket with the best wine, the best produce and all things gourmet, but we also need to make sure there’s enough loo roll and……well – at the end of the day we are truly earth creatures, aren’t we?!*

And then there’s that other aspect of being human. That constant undercurrent of posturing and positioning that we all do. Overtly, covertly, consciously and unconsciously. It begins in the family with sibling rivalry, establishing the social pecking order on the playground – I’m the king of the castle!!!

And goes on into adulthood.

As we saw in our Gospel reading today. I’m more important than you – no I am – no me!!!

We see it in the games that get played in the office, the ladder climbing, the currying favour.

We see it in the Church – each little group trying to prove their dominance.

We see it in the world in the complex interplay between nations, groups of nations, political ideologies and religious theologies.

Why do we do it? What are we trying to prove?

Or, more to the point, what is it we are trying to hide? What are we afraid of?

When children elbow each other out the way at the party to get to the food, are they just rude, or is it the deeply human fear of missing out?

When we cast ourselves as bigger than we are, are we just too full of our own self importance or is it because of that deep fear of not being noticed, not being loved, not having a place?

Or is it because we threaten to be overwhelmed by our sense of smallness in the world?

So we dress ourselves up, we command our place in the world and we flirt with the power of status – each in our own way.

Robbert was in Ireland during the week and had to go through all the new airport security checks. As he was telling me about it, we had to chuckle. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, whether you’re in the first class seats, the back of the bus, wear Gucci or George, Jimmy Choo or Clarkes. There is something very levelling about having to take off your shoes and walk barefoot through security.

Our toes are funny things – (go on wiggle your toes and think about how funny they are!) – and walking barefoot can make us feel quite vulnerable. Maybe not in the bedroom, bathroom or on the beach, but certainly in a place where we expect to portray a different persona.

Our vulnerability is something we wrestle with most of our lives. And our readings today remind us that how we deal with it can have major consequences.

In the reading from the Wisdom of Solomon we hear about those who live purely for themselves. As far as they can see life is for the taking, death is just around the corner, fulfilment is the purpose, and hang the consequences. Not recognising life as a gift from God to be lived in a way that seeks to be part of the bigger divine purpose, they simply live in the moment and see fit to taunt and persecute anyone who threatens their hedonistic way of life with talk of reliance on God, and attention to ethical behaviour and self sacrifice. Bolstering themselves in their own vulnerability they go around bullying, tormenting and torturing others to death in order to prove their power.

Doesn’t sound too different to today’s world, does it? – And let’s be honest, it’s happening on each side of the conflicts that are going around at the moment.

Then we hear from James’ letter, written to The Diaspora - Christians of Jewish origin now living dispersed all over the ancient world.

The source of conflicts in these communities is also to be found in the complex war of desires and fears at work in people’s lives. True wisdom is to be found in peace, with oneself and one’s neighbour. It is demonstrated in gentleness and the recognition that we can yield, we can offer our vulnerability and trust, and live graciously towards all.

When I was training as a consultant we used to do a lot of group work. It was very intense and therapeutic, enabling us each to understand how we worked with others, how we dealt with conflict, how we let people come close, or kept our distance. A good consultant needs to be able to be present to people, to share something of the pain and joy of the work that people are seeking to do. It is not good enough simply to come in with ready made solutions and imposed ideas.

One class stands out to me. We had been exploring our fears of opening up to others and working with vulnerability, and were all finding it quite difficult.
 

‘The problem for most of you,’ said our tutor, ‘is that you are afraid the others will take something from you. So you won’t open up. You won’t let people closer. Do you know what?’ she said. ‘I could ask each one of you to walk across the classroom naked, no-one could take anything from you – unless you give it.’

I am still working towards living in the truth of that statement.

And it’s the essence of this that Jesus is dealing with when he sits down with his disciples and explores their jostling for position. ‘Understand’ – he is saying – ‘your value comes, not from the position you hold, or who you impress. But your value comes simply from being child of God. Just like this child I’m holding in my arms. This child has no status the world understands, they have no power to impress, no claim to position. But just as we welcome this child, God welcomes and embraces us. That is where we start, everything else follows from there….then we can reach out and embrace the world..’

I want to end with another anecdote from Robbert’s travels this week.

A little boy, a toddler of about 2, was standing at the window of the airport with his daddy. Dad was crouched down with his arms around his son looking out at the planes below the window and the hustle and bustle of preparations to get it ready for the flight.

Dad then straightened up and stepped a way. The child was left looking out the window. Suddenly be began to look a bit uncertain. He looked around. He reached out and touched the window – as if to make sure there really was something there between him and that rather scary ‘bigness’ of the planes and runways outside. Then he realised he was all alone and he started to cry. The crying got louder. (‘This is scary- I don’t like it’ sort of crying)

Dad came back and crouched down again, arms around his son – the crying got louder. So Dad picked him up and put him on his shoulders. The tears ceased, and the little lad’s face lit up with a big grin.

‘That’s better, now I’m where I belong, in Daddy’s arms. Together we can face the world, however big and scary it may seem.’

The beginning of true wisdom is when we find our value and identity as children of God. Held in the knowledge of this truth we too can then face and welcome the world with openness and peace.

AMEN.