The Rev. Carol S. Wedell

Recently our family rented a new movie entitled, "Happy Feet."  For us, with kids at very different ages, it was one of those rare movies that appealed to everyone.  With delightful digital animation, it made for a fun evening.  There were some groans at the beginning when I began singing along with the many "oldies" that were a part of the opening, but other than that we all enjoyed it!

Now admittedly, the plot line is not sophisticated, nor even particularly consistent.  Yet for me, it offered some possible connections to this morning's text.  Among a large group of Emperor Penguins, one penguin is born who is "different."  From the moment Mumble hatches out of his egg (later than all the rest, of course), his feet simply have to dance.  While all the other penguins are searching for their unique song - for that is what makes them penguins-he just wants to add the rhythm.  And trust me - he can't sing.  It would be hard even to call what he does a "joyful noise!" 

But his feet - now that's a different matter entirely.  Without giving the entire story away - for you may want to watch it - Mumble allows his happy feet to take him on a journey that ultimately transforms not only himself, but his entire community, as well.  His feet were "happy" because they were going where they needed to go and doing what they needed to do.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is full of stories of God's faithful people who had "happy feet", who journeyed from the safety and security of what they knew to a new place where God would lead them.  Abraham and Sarah, Ruth and Naomi, and most certainly Paul all made pilgrimages that began in struggle and pain and moved to places where their feet could dance for joy at the goodness of God.

Listen now, to Luke's account of the call of Saul in Acts 9:1-20: 

Saul, (whose name is later changed to Paul), a deeply committed Jew, had been intent on persecuting those who followed "The Way", meaning the way of Jesus.  Apparently, he had gained quite a reputation as one who was totally dedicated to preserving Judaism as he knew it.  He saw those who called themselves Christian as disrupters of the status quo.  

As Saul approaches Damascus, he is literally "blinded by the light."  In extraordinarily dramatic fashion, Saul is brought face to face with Jesus.  And he is left not only blind, but speechless. In an instant, his feet are turned in a different direction.  This life-long Jew is now paying attention to another lifelong Jew - Jesus.  It isn't acceptance of some long list of dogmatic statements that changes his life.  It isn't reading and understanding the "right" theology.  It isn't because someone has been particularly persuasive in their argumentation.  No - it is the presence of Jesus in his life that alters where his feet will go from now on.

In the church we often speak of a "Damascus road experience."  That refers to the kind of dramatic transformation that occurred as Saul moved from one who was the lead player in charge of persecuting the church, to one who helped spread the good news of Jesus Christ far and wide.  In some circles, that kind of powerful experience is held up as the norm - as something expected for anyone and everyone who claims the name, "Christian."   I'm guessing that more than a few of you have been in situations where you were asked about the date and time of your conversion, about the day you were "saved." Such a question assumes that Paul's dramatic turn around was intended to be a model for the way that the rest of us get in step with the music of God's spirit.

But please note:  this was Saul (soon to be called Paul)'s particular experience.  And when you think about it, it fit.  How else would God get the attention of one who moved with such determination and intensity?  How would God turn Saul in a different direction? To get Saul to see things differently probably called for a dramatic intervention.  What was unique and appropriate for Saul, however, would not necessarily fit you or me.  To get his feet dancing in the direction God desired, Saul needed a wake up call.  Saul's traveling companions didn't see the light - because it was tailor made for him, and him alone.

Perhaps some of you may have had such dramatic calls, as well.  If so, I celebrate those moments with you!  I hope you will tell me about them. Yet as unique and beloved children of God, the call to let our feet follow the dance of Christ comes to us in a wide variety of ways.  Scripture is full of stories of faithful folks who responded affirmatively to God's leading in their lives, often with little or no drama. All we have to do is keep reading!  Did you notice that Saul is not the only one who receives a call from Jesus in this story?

Ananias, one who was already a faithful follower of Jesus, also gets a call.  Ananias had a relationship with God which was active and growing.   So when God called his name, he didn't ask "who is it?" as Saul had.  He knew the sound of God's voice, God's leading.  Unlike Saul, Ananias was not left unable to respond.  In fact he didn't hesitate to engage God in dialogue.  God calls him to set aside his preconceived notions about who was good and who was bad, to move way beyond his comfort zone and meet with a man who was known to be dangerous for anyone whose feet followed Jesus.  And Ananias is not eager to receive these instructions!  "Don't you know this guy?  He's bad news!  He's out to get all of us!"  And his comments certainly were not based in paranoia.  Meeting with Saul was decidedly meeting with "the enemy."

The call to one who was already among the faithful is a wonderful reminder that the transformation that God desires in us is not a one-time event, but occurs over and over again during the course of our whole life journey.  God doesn't just call us once and leave us alone, but continually is calling our feet to dance in new and challenging directions.

God reassures Ananias that Saul has been called for a special and important work - to spread the good news of Jesus to the gentiles.  We're fairly used to that language, but it would have been shocking to first century Jewish ears.  Saul - the "ultimate Jew" if you will, would be crossing every boundary imaginable to tell non-Jews about Jesus?

In a much quieter, more subtle manner, Ananias is also transformed by an encounter with Jesus.  Both of these men thought they knew what God was up to in the world and what God wanted from them.  They had very clear and specific understandings about God.   They firmly believed that they knew the right way to go about God's business.  Only their beliefs are diametrically opposed.   

Now God calls both of them -- in ways that were just right for each one --and they find themselves moving in the same direction - dancing to the new rhythm that God has given to them.  Ananias quietly goes about anointing Saul's eyes, and after his vision is restored and he has spent a few days with the disciples, Saul "immediately" began to proclaim Jesus.

The word "immediately" suggests the kind of urgency and passion of "happy feet" that know they are moving in the ways God desires.  "Saul found spiritual, physical and emotional healing; how could he help but begin to dance with his words, as he would do in evangelism for the rest of his life?" (Lectionaid, Vol. 15, #2, Rochelle Stackhouse, p. 29)

Because we are all different, God gets our attention in different ways.  Sometimes, I believe God works through challenging life events to point us in a different direction.  (Notice that I didn't say that God gives us those difficult events - rather that when they arise they can become ways that God is made real to us.)  Tragic events such as the senseless shootings at Virginia Tech earlier this week can be used as "wake up calls" that remind us that life is precious and that we can take nothing for granted.

Sometimes --- perhaps even often --God gets our attention through our children, when they say something that points out the hypocrisy of how we may be living.  Jesus may call us through the faces of those from whom we're estranged, or even through co-workers who drive us crazy.

Whether we grew up in the church and grew into our faith over time or came to faith later in life, every one of has have journeys to remember and acknowledge. What are some of the ways in which God has gotten your attention recently?

What's ultimately important is not the means by which God gets our attention, or the manner of our transformation - what matters in the end is what we do with it.  Think about it.  If Paul had not gone on to be a dynamic disciple, teaching and preaching and founding churches throughout many regions, the account of his call would scarcely matter.  Ultimately, it is not the method of our "conversion" or the date or time, but our willingness to put our feet on the path that God sets before us.  Conversion is not the end of the story, but the beginning!  As author C.S. Lewis put it, "Fine feelings, new insights, great interest in religion mean nothing unless they make our actual behavior better..."

In the movie, "Happy Feet," the main character, Mumble, finds that his dancing feet can serve a larger purpose than merely expressing his joy of life.  Ultimately, they become both a vital means of communication and a means of supporting his community.  He learns that the true value of his happy feet is found in serving others.  "Happy feet" are not simply an entertaining diversion, but an expression of something far greater at work. His feet were "happy" because they were going where they needed to go and doing what they needed to do.

In a similar manner, every one of us who responds to God's call are asked to let our feet dance to the rhythm of God's spirit as we follow where God would lead us.  As one of my online colleagues said this week, "It's almost as if God is standing there extending an arm and saying, "May I have this dance?" And when we say "Yes" we are embracing an opportunity to change the world. Actually, it would seem that God has more confidence in our ability to dance than we do." (Andy Oren, Midrash discussion, April 20, 2007)

Events like those of this week remind us just how much the world needs all of us to listen for the beat of God's heart, letting our feet go where God would lead.