" Looking Back, Faith Forward "

I’m enjoying the new “view” out of the windows of my “new to me” pastor’s study.  I’ve especially found myself thinking about what it may have looked like, seeing the tops of the steamboats against the treetops on the far side of the river, across from downtown Camden nearly a century-and-a-half ago.  Since then, of course, many things have changed. 

Still, some things “feel” the same.  My first call in ordained ministry was serving two small congregations in the middle of Nebraska, separated by about 30 miles.  So, driving up from El Dorado to Camden almost “feels normal,” hearkening back to experiences formed early in my ministry.  It was early on in my ministry in Nebraska that I visited nearby Fort Hartstuff, a state historical park, to take the tour of the fort used briefly in the late 1800’s (AFTER the Civil War).  We walked out of one of the buildings and the tour guide pointed out a row of trees along the river in the far distance:

“See those trees along the river in the distance? …Yeah.  None of those were here when the fort was built—all the wood had to be brought from more than 40 miles away.” 

She also reminded us that the whole landscape looked different now than it once had—because of those trees!  They weren’t there …back in the day! 

In 2009, I had a similar experience standing on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.  While we wanted to believe we were walking in the footsteps of Jesus, the iconic shoreline was filled with the reminders that times were different.  Not only was the shoreline surprisingly littered with some used tires and obvious trash, but the tour guides reminded us over and over how the shoreline has been affected by heavy water use in modern times, dramatically altering the “look” and location of shoreline itself. 

…Despite this, almost always, it’s easier to tell where we’ve been; it’s hard to impossible, knowing what’s going to be. 

Many factors shape our physical landscapes over time: weather, human activity, environmental changes, adaptations, new technologies, necessities.  …But what about our faith? 

The Epiphany is often considered to be the last celebration of the Christmas season; but “epiphanies” happen all the time.  An epiphany is a revealing of God—think Moses and the burning bush, or the Pillar of Cloud in the escape from Egypt, or Jesus brining the Kingdom of God to bear in the world.  The Epiphany was the visit of the Magi to see Jesus.  But there are many places where we know God is present in our lives—even now. 

So how is our faith and faithfulness shaping not only “our inner,” spiritual worlds—but the outer world around us?  How are you watching for God, every day?  Not only, how you’re being shaped and reshaped by faith; but how is your faith reshaping the world you live in?  How is it making other’s lives different?  How is it recreating the landscape and reshaping the view? 

All this, is what God invites us to participate in from the very beginning, uttering “Let there be light.”  Ever since then, God has invited us to participate in making the world God’s good creation. 

…God has shown us what is good.  Time for us to move the world!  Come be a part of what God is doing!