Homily for Joe Clements - John 14:1-7

I was at Joe and Julie’s home a few weeks ago. Actually, I was outside of their house to be exact. They had graciously agreed to host a small, socially distanced worship service for a few Christ Church parishioners in their backyard. I showed up with prayer books, a bible, and a wooden box that contains everything you need for communion. I had used this box many times over the years, never thinking much about it. As I unpacked its contents to set up for the service, Joe came over and told me several details about the box and who had made it. Then, and this will surprise none of you, he described the details of how he restored it. What had been just a carrying case over the years suddenly had a story, a history, and a connection to the people of Christ Church. Joe had a knack for filling in the details about the stories of wood.  

Joe’s knowledge of the history of that communion box came as no surprise, of course. There is a long list of wooden treasures in this church that Joe knew the history of, or made himself, or personally restored over the years, including I believe every inch of the wood in the chapel. No doubt, you have your own list of items that Joe took into his care over the years. He certainly had the shop to do it. Word on the street is that his tool collection is the envy of many in this town. My own husband admitted to feeling significant shop envy when it came to Joe. Perhaps the tools Joe collected over the years are an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Joe knew how to pay attention, and tend to stories, to history, and to connections through his meticulous attention to the details of wood. 

That grace ran through so many projects Joe took on in his life. The list is long and impressive. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Many of you knew him as a fellow Mason, a civil engineer, a lover of genealogy, a woodworker, a master-at-arms, or even as a scout master some years ago whose delightful troop name was Slow Turtle. When you consider all of these roles and callings together, a sacred story emerges about Joe. In each of the projects of his life, you can see God’s grace running through. He tended to the details in each one with a kind of holy attention, whether in building, loving, researching, or restoring. 

Positive psychology has a term for what Joe managed to do all the time. It’s called a flow state. Being in a flow state is to be completely absorbed in a task, so much so that you lose track of time and experience the pleasure of giving something your undivided attention. Psychologists say this achievement is a key element of our happiness. Joe could get into a flow state with his projects, that’s for sure. Being absorbed like that brought him joy, which everyone around him could see. We could all learn about flow states from Joe’s good example. But there’s more to it than flow states and psychology. The way Joe embraced his projects has something spiritual to teach us.

Consider the disciple Thomas. John’s gospel paints Thomas as somewhat befuddled in the scene we just heard, on the heals of some of Jesus’ most beautiful words. “Do not let your hearts be troubled… In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” Jesus promises to prepare a place for us, and to take us to himself so that we will abide with him in the life to come. Poor befuddled Thomas worries that he won’t know the way. Maybe he’ll get lost or worse, get left out. Who can blame him for not understanding such a mystery? How will he, or how will we for that matter, know the way to heaven? Jesus answers, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” To know Jesus is to know the way. There is no other secret map or mystery to solve. We have what we need in Jesus. 

The gospel assures us that Joe knew the way to his Father’s house, a promise made to all of us. But Joe also knew how to take his time and enjoy the path. He studied every detail in this life that he could. He knew Christ, and he knew how to show Christ’s love to us - through carpentry and family life and civic engagements. We could say that his flow states were states of grace, when he was fully absorbed in the life God called him to live. He trusted and savored the path God showed him. 

There may be times when we are a little less trusting, and we find ourselves feeling more like Thomas. We worry about finding our way to God, or worse, wether we’ll be worthy to enter the heavenly dwelling places. This is where Joe’s good life can guide us. He knew the way because he paid attention and loved the details God placed on the path in front of him. God lays out the heavenly path before us, too - not as some impossible mystery to solve or a finish line we can only cross if we’re righteous enough, but as a path for us to delight in as it leads each of us back to God. 

There is one more detail to tell you about from that service in Julie and Joe’s backyard. In addition to providing the history of the communion box, Joe also read the scripture lessons for the group. He had a pretty wonderful way reading in church, filling passages with meaning and reverence. What a gift to hear him read that evening. As I was leaving, I told him that I hoped to hear him read again at Christ Church when this pandemic is over. He teared up a bit, signaling, I think, that he thought this might be his last time to read in a service. Reading God’s word meant so much to him, which was a long-standing blessing to us. I have no doubt that he is now in his heavenly dwelling place, reading to the other angels whenever he gets the chance. And, of course, taking on a few heavenly projects.