Moving Bravely into this New World
As we flip over the calendar into May there are many things that continue to be certitudes in life: the love of family, the continued unfolding of spring, even the continued celebration of Kaslo’s May Days! In faith communities we mark Good Shepherd Sunday and transition into May celebrating the Fifth Sunday of Easter, reminded that Ascension is around the corner, as we hear the words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me . . .” (Jn 14:1).
In all this celebration, in all of the festivities of our liturgical life, we are also grounded in the reality of our communities, our nation, and the world. I write these words during the tenseness of the passion, journeying through Holy Week, wondering indeed what life will look like in early May in Kokanee Parish, in British Columbia, indeed, in the world. Where will gas prices be? Will a war in Iran still suffocate our headlines? Will the toxic drug supply still rob vulnerable people of their lives, their humanity, as front line workers respond with all their heart and soul to bring care?
Perhaps I was much more innocent and sheltered in my youth. I felt that my faith, combined with the words and actions of God through persons and through the church would continue to bring hope, love, and justice, such that the world would become all that it is intended to be — a safe, loving space for all of nature, and for a harmonious humanity living within it.
Now, with a more seasoned life, I find that the chaos of the world, and communities within it really hasn’t changed much. The conflicts and struggles of the 1970s and 1980s have shifted to more complex challenges in our time. I find myself constantly needing to check my internal ‘compass’ as I navigate new challenges that are presented in today’s society — AI, Social Media, Geopolitics, addressing Mental Health and substance use in community to name a few.
In some ways, the distance in space and time between the gospel writers and ourselves seems too large a gap; passages in John seem to either miss the mark or serve merely as platitudes for folk that struggle to see the relevance of Scripture amid the daily struggles of society.
In these times, when I lament the disconnect between church and the world, I am reminded of the realities that traverse all of human experience.
For me, love, justice, compassion, courage, and humility need not only be contained within our structure of faith and faith community. We do not hold the monopoly of these realities. In fact, I believe we are called to uncover, recover, and celebrate where these realities are present — in and beyond the church.
Conversely, injustice, apathy, hate, fear, and pride are present in the church and in the world as well.
Like all human constructs, communities have triumphs and failings; at best I guess we are combinations of the best and the hardest of our humanity.
We are called, through our leading and following, to follow a message and a way of life that emulates the goodness into which the Holy One invites us: a life of justice, love, humility, courage, and compassion. It is a hard ask for us in Christian community, as we sometimes become mired and paralyzed by the systems we’ve created to help sustain the model of church to which we aspire.
This world seems forever to be changing – not just this May, but with each sunrise and sunset, each season, each headline, each interaction.
May we step into this newness, of season, of uncertainty, following the One who calls us daily to die and rise, to embrace and serve, to love. May we have the courage to step out and lead when that is required, may we have the humility to follow where God’s love demands.
