Where Will You Take Your Stand?

Several years ago a friend gave me a copy of The Glass Bead Game the novel that Herman Hesse won the Nobel prize for in literature. That sparked my interest to re-read several of his novels. A task that I have been doing off and on since then, although after reading Siddhartha I have stopped for a while. It certainly was more intriguing to me as a teenager than it is now. I recently picked up a copy of Steppenwolf a book that I read in seventh grade – fifty years ago. (Yes, I read it because of the name of some rock band. . .)  Reading it was reminiscent of remembering a dream. I knew parts and bits of the story and remembered many of the scenes described in the book. At thirteen I came away from the book seeing that it is alright not to be like everyone else, to live outside of what is normal, but not too far out. On reading the book a second time, knowing more history and understanding the veiled references to writers, musicians,  and philosophers, I saw the allegory and Hesse’s critique of Germany between the two world wars. (An allegory that might fit our nation and times today)

Getting a different meaning from the same book is not unusual. We bring our experiences, life  situations, and  beliefs to what we read. Those change over time and so does our interpretation of the things around us. That is if we let it. Opening yourself up to new ideas and experiences can be difficult and painful. For that reason we avoid it. Yet we are able to change our mind and ways. That is what repentance is. The Old Testament recounts several times when God changed his mind. We, as the people of God, need to see new possibilities and openings in our lives that let God’s love show through. Too often we react in a negative way to new opportunities, rejecting them and not truly engaging with them to help shape how we will be the Body of Christ in an ever changing world. 

Change is inevitable. How we react to it is not. The church has struggled with change for thousands of years. She has not always done so in loving God-filled ways. Even in those times God did not abandon the Church and God will not abandon us now. As we look to the future of our church we need to recognize the changes around us and be supportive of each other as we continue to struggle discerning what God wants us to be and do. We act knowing that we are flawed and make mistakes and that God is merciful and slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. Live in that love. Let us stand together and proclaim Jesus to our neighborhood and the world.

Peace,
Pastor John