eleventh hour

Yesterday I was sitting in traffic waiting because the driving lanes had been reduced. Of course someone always chooses to drive down an empty lane (or in this case the beginnings of a slip road) and then try to push into the line. We have all done this accidentally - we get lost and end up being in the wrong place - but I think we also all know the people I am talking about.

The idea of waiting, taking turns, of working for reward is deeply ingrained in us - we stand in lines, we understand that if we do not put requisite effort in then we do not get results - so the story of the laborers who are hired at different times of the day comes as a bit of a shock in some ways. The workers who are hired and work through the whole heat of the day are paid a days wage, but so are those who come in right at the end.

I used to wonder why it was that I was bothering if that was true - if some people could live any way they wanted and then at the eleventh hour saunter up and say "let me in" to the Kingdom of God, why bother? Why not have a fine old time and then just show up at the end. One answer always given was that I might not catch the eleventh hour before it happened - a bus might run me over or some such eventuality.

But these days I think there is a better answer - and that is that once we have been called, once we have experienced life in Christ, that is what we want. We want that relationship, we want that lifestyle. I suppose I should draw a distinction between some folks experience of institution and relationship with God the former can be far from what we want.

Even though we sometimes weave in and out of God's presence, the absence of Christ in our lives leaves a hole which we know does not have to be there. It is with this experience that, hopefully, we can walk towards the eleventh hour late comer and welcome them in. People's motives and experience are complicated and we are not called to judge - but instead to work alongside until the master comes at the end of the day.