But now, says the Lord—the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you.
Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history.
Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.
–Isaiah 43:1-2, 18-19
Not long ago, I watched a local businessman talk about who he would be voting for in the election. He shared that he was going to vote for some because his business had done well under their leadership back in the day. Of course, the “day” he talked about was long gone. The world had changed radically. But, for some reason, he thought he could go back to the good old days.
We church people sometimes fall into the same trap. We remember the glory days when churches were full, when we had influence in the community, and where we could support all sorts of programs and activities. But the world has changed, and going back to what worked before simply isn’t possible.
What changed? Here are a few ideas:
- Society began a cultural shift at the turn of the century from a modernistic worldview toward one that scholars call “postmodern.” The old worldview placed great value on facts, science, categorization, and trust in institutions. The new worldview was more comfortable with mystery and nuance, and generally much more distrustful of institutions. We are still going through this transition of worldviews, which has led to much of the polarization we experience today.
- The economic crisis of 2008 further disrupted our trust in institutions and began the slide into the housing crisis and the rise in homelessness seen throughout our nation. The economic uncertainty felt at the lower rungs of society never fully abated, leading to great fear about the future.
- We lived through a global pandemic, changing how we relate to one another, and further polarizing society. For organizations like churches, the underpinnings of our identity were eroded and most churches are shells of what they were before the pandemic.
- In Vermont, we are living with the reality of climate change, which brought severe flooding and devastation. The floods of 2023 were bad enough, but when it happened in places throughout the state a year later, it cemented in our minds how fragile our comfort and existence are.
These things, and others, have significantly changed the world we live in today. The boom of the 1950s and 60s, or even the boom during the Clinton era are in the rearview mirror. While looking at the past provides perspective, it is impossible to return to recreate that climate for the experiences we’ve shared point us in a new direction. Yes, we can and should grieve what we have lost, but know that our future is ahead of us, not behind us.
That is what the prophet Isaiah was trying to share with the exiles in Babylon. They lamented the loss of their city, nation, and temple, and longed for the day when they could go back home. But, even if they returned to their former homeland, Isaiah (speaking for God) understood that whatever they returned to would not be the same. They would have to rebuild something new. And God would be with them in creating something new out of the wilderness.
Trinity Church has had a long history and has been an important resource to the Montpelier community. The floods of 2023 left us wandering in the wilderness, and like the Hebrew people before us, it’s easy to fall into the desire to go back to Egypt. But that is not the way forward. Our future lies not in returning to the past but in creating a new way of being church together. It is about creating spaces where all are embraced and loved and where we work to connect people to God, one another, and the world. God IS doing a new thing in our midst!
Yes, we can and should grieve the loss of what we had, but we must also celebrate that we have been allowed to create something new. And, as Isaish assures us, God is with us every step of the way. The rivers will not overcome us. There is a hope-filled future ahead.
Grace and peace,
Jay