Change Is Nothing New
Message from Rev. Anthony
Hello friends,
Last week I figured it was time to trade-in my old Honda Civic for a newer (albeit, used) car. Just in time for my birthday (May 1st)!
After checking out the latest Toyota Prius, and A LOT of back and forth with Carvana (which I do not recommend), I decided to get my money back and go to a more traditional car lot. I even went in a completely different direction with my vehicle of choice.
I am getting a Tesla. There, I said it.
It used to be (like only a year ago) saying, “you were getting a Tesla” gave off the vibe you are an environmentally conscious, yuppie. And now Tesla owners are placing disparaging Elon Musk bumper stickers on their cars to show they are not ‘fascist.’ It’s bewildering how much can change in such a short amount of time. My choice in getting one was quite practical really (lower cost, save on gas). Like many Tesla drivers I am no more a fan of Elon than iPhone users are fans of child labor. Most companies have “blood on their hands.”
Nevertheless, the larger reflection I have is on change. Change is nothing new. For instance, in the Book of Acts, there is a lot of change happening. There were Jews who were following, “The Way” and preaching controversial ideas at the time such as: eating non-kosher food, accepting gentiles, and deprioritizing circumcision. These and other factors became a major conflict amongst the early church, and they never really got over it, which is one of the reasons Christianity became its own “thing” instead of being a sect under Judaism.
Meanwhile, our world is changing at a breakneck, speed; that deepens our polarization towards each other. Many people are looking for a sense of stability in a volatile, technocratic society where key institutions are being upended.
Which is all the more reason to appreciate this week’s familiar Psalm 23 scripture, “The Lord is my shepherd…He makes me lie down in green pastures, and leads me besides still waters.” Sheep can be anxious animals. They do not have natural defenses against predators and rely on the shepherd to protect them. While the analogy of us being sheep can seem paternalistic, the psalmist suggests that in God, we have a means to which we can center and ground ourselves. And in a world that is in flux, that connection with God is more important than ever.
In Christ,
Anthony+
