Exodus 17:1-3, 5-6
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” …The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
I recently watched the movie Where the Wild Things Are, based on the beloved book by Maurice Sendak. I’d hesitated to see the live action movie interpretation for fear it would cloud my opinion of the cherished book. Yet as the familiar story of the boy, having acted out and been punished by his mother, unfolded with him fleeing into the night, I found myself in the boat alongside Max.
You see, Max sets out across the sea in search of a place that will be different. The movie takes some liberties with Max’s story, depicting a child confused by a broken home. But what Max finds along his journey is the same: wild things.
The beautiful and terrible wild things are a sorry bunch. In their community there is jealousy, fear, anger and sorrow. They quarrel and complain. But so excited are they to have Max as their new leader, they dare to show love, compassion, grace and fellowship to one another, and for a while all is well and Max is sure he’s found his true home where he will be loved.
But life is not perfect and eventually the jealousy and fear and infighting return, and Max has had enough. But as he prepares to leave, a funny thing happens among the wild things. They realize they love Max, and more importantly, that they love each other. Max has shown them that even when times are hard, they experience community. They recognize a powerful force of love, grace, and acceptance among them. Even in their sorrow at his departure, they are not alone.
Max, too, finds his way through the wilderness, across the water and back into the arms of his loving mother where he finds what he was searching for all along.
I have been Max, seeking something in the wilderness, and I have also been a wild thing, hungry for something that seemed out of reach. And like the characters in this beloved story, my fears have been quenched by the ever-present comfort of family, friends, faith, community…God.
Prayer: Gracious God, comfort us and bring us hope as we walk in the wilderness.
Ms. Lara Schopp
Director of Communications
