Back. I have been thinking back over the last three years as I come to the close of my time at OSLC.
At least this chapter of it, that is. There is a reluctance to let me go it seems. However, things move on in life and there is a new pastor coming. More adventures unfolding. And before I go, I am reminded about a quote I saw recently. It is unattributed. It says, "But the thing is, even if I could go back, I wouldn't belong there any more." And we don't. For those who were at the Synod Convention, we do not belong in King's College buildings any more. For those who visit old places we used to live, we don't belong there any more. For those experiences we had, even while remarkable and seminal, we don't belong there any more. We move on. Even Jesus knew that you could not go back again.
Two examples of this are Matthew 13:53-58 and Luke 4:14-28. There are differing reactions that we see. The first is familial. The second is much more hostile. It is fine when he reads from the Hebrew bible (Isaiah 61). Even when he quotes further from a nearby passage in Isaiah 58. But when he points out their true hearts from the example of 2 Kings 5:1-19, now there is going to be trouble.
There are two observations I want to make about going back. I have been reflecting on our years together and we have come a long way from when I first started here. Covid had been in full gear. We were still trying to figure out what we could do and could not do. What protocols to keep and what we could drop. Even the sharing of the peace was subject to distancing. Things are very different now. And that is good and very good because we are social creatures at heart.
Also, there is an exception I have found to not going back. We have recently revisited friends we have not seen in many years. Many of these relationships we simply picked up from where we left off and carried on. Differently, yes, but we were able to just go on with the conversations and times from where we are now. That is truly comforting.
In John 14, Jesus promises that the disciples will have help even when he is gone. They get it in spades in Acts 2. Going on means that we take things with us. As we enter this season of rest, relaxation; of summer that is outdoors and at the lake; of vacations and new experiences, our God is always with us. As we go forward, our time together will go forward with us too. I take great comfort in that thought and wish all of you a blessed summer. Oh, and there will be a couple of blogs yet before I sign off. Pr. Scott
