Flying Under The Radar

You’ve heard of “flying under the radar”? “Out of sight, out of mind” kind of thing. There are some radar screens that I certainly want to avoid…the one in the State Trooper’s car, because that might mean a speeding ticket, or the screen that belongs to the I.R.S. Audit is a frightful word.

My guess is that Jesus wanted to be under the Roman radar in the early days of his adult life. Probably under the radar that belonged to the religious authorities of his day. During the time of recruiting helpers, days of planning and preparing for the announcement of the Kingdom of God present and active, it would have been nice to avoid distractions. But it didn’t work out that way. No, the Roman radar and the Religious radar picked him up rather quickly. And that was because he spoke about and demonstrated the power and vitality of the Kingdom or Reign of God. Once let loose, the Gospel, the good news, the transformative power of God shakes the rafters and rattles foundations. It is a “living” Word. Even now.

People who are sincere, who walk in the footsteps of Jesus, who put life into traditional words, who live what they say; people who do the Gospel instead of just thinking about it, become a blip on the radar screen of others who are intimidated or convicted by eternal truth. Remember that line in the movie: “Build it and they will come”? Change the words to “Live it…” and they will respond eagerly to hope and healing inherent in the Gospel of Jesus. But it’s also possible that some will show up with empty crosses. There will come a moment when the low-flying bird has to rise above the relative protection of grasses and bushes. It’s not possible for him to skim the surface all his life. And when he rises above the tree tops he will be vulnerable. But if he’s going to be a bird, he has to fly. Christians, inevitably, cause change. When helplessness turns to hope, when those in poverty are welcomed into the plenty that exists, when courage takes over from cowering, things change. And here come the crosses, crafted and carried by greed and self-serving power.

To be authentic, to be honest with ourselves and with God, we have to rise to the calling of Truth, Compassion, and Courage. We were made to risk flight. Radar or not, here we come.