Rabbi Akiva’s Lesson

 

                                                                            

Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef lived in Capernaum just after the time of Jesus.   The story goes that Akiva was ambling along the edge of the water one day.   The day was almost over.  The light was fading and Akiva, caught up in his meditations, missed his turning and wandered on to the wrong path.   Still contemplating a particular passage in Isaiah he found himself in front of the local Roman garrison where he was stopped in his tracks by the brusque bark a young sentry on the wall above: ‘Who are you and why are you here’?

Following the rabbinic tradition, the rabbi responded with a question of his own.   ‘How much do they pay you to stand guard and ask that question of anyone that approaches’?  No doubt the young sentry was a little taken aback by Akiva’s retort, but realising the intruder was a rabbi who posed no threat to the fortress, replied: ‘Five drachmas a week’.  The rabbi then made the young man an offer: ‘I will pay you double that if you will come and stand in front of my home and ask me that at the beginning of each day’.

This wonderful story is quoted in Steve Aisthorpe’s great new book ‘Rewilding the Church’.   As Steve goes onto comment, ‘Akiva knew the paramount importance of knowing one’s identity and purpose- and our tendency to forget these most fundamental details’.  (p32)   He is using this to illustrate the need for the church to be clearer about what it’s called to do, but that is not my primary purpose today.  

As we move into another unknown few weeks and months it is easy to find ourselves looking at the news a lot, or building scenarios in our mind about how things might go with Covid 19and the numbers and spread etc, or trying to anticipate what impact this may have on us and our communities and so on.  At least this is what I’ve found myself doing and noticing that something of the anxiety that was present at the start of all this 6 months ago has returned.  This is where Rabbi Akiva can help us.   

By focusing firstly on what we have some measure of control of, and can actually do something about, ourselves, we are encouraged to channel our energies and thoughts in a potentially productive direction bearing in mind that any change in the world needs to start with us.  More importantly though in our context today is that these two questions help us to orientate ourselves in very changing times.   A boat can face strong cross currents and uncertain seas if its’ engine is working and it faces into the waves.   Once the engine (or sails ) of a boat are lost then it is at the mercy of the elements.  

We stand a much better chance of weathering (and perhaps even thriving in) the months ahead if we tend to the direction and motivations of our lives and don’t overly focus on the externals which can intimidate and confuse and are ever changing anyway.   As Christians we would say we are children of God and we are called to share God’s love with others.  That is a key part of who we are and why we’re here.   Of course there is more to our lives than that, but if we can keep hold of these two core truths they will offer us both strength and purpose in the months ahead.

Who are you and why are you here?