We are living in such interesting and difficult times! Enormous challenges envelop us: a changing climate necessitating deep adaptation; tensions among nation states, some of which possessing vast nuclear arsenals; pernicious economic inequalities; a democratic political system taken for granted by so many of us, now being attacked and undermined; even common decency and respect and civility, now seemingly elusive. 

If we humans are to survive and, indeed, thrive in and beyond these challenging days, we will need faithful, courageous leaders.

Over the past couple of months, a group of us here at St. John’s have been reading a book together.  The book, written by Bishop Marianne Budde, gives us some suggestions for how we can learn to be brave. Bishop Budde talks about such things as the courage to leave or to stay, the necessity, at times, to step up to the plate and do the hard or unpopular thing.  The book ends with a chapter on persistence. 

The author makes the point that persistence is not a matter of just hanging in there; rather, persistence is also about humbly and honestly looking at ourselves and assessing what skills we are lacking in order to do the brave thing. Persistence is a matter of day after day, year after year, coming alongside others who can teach us and help us be brave. And then persistence is about trying to do the good thing over and over and over again, often failing, but sometimes actually succeeding.

In a way, our parish family is a fellowship of folks who are learning to be brave. Week after week we come together to be reminded of who we are as God’s children, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, to learn from each other and to serve alongside each other. What we do here is far from perfect, and when we position who we are and what we do against the vast challenges that our community and the world faces, the efforts of our parish seem such a paltry offering.

I am confident that the early band of Christians, when faced with the immense challenges of their day, felt similarly. How could such a small, ragtag bunch of Jesus followers make a difference on behalf of the Kingdom of God?

What happened then, however, and what continues to happen now is that God does amazing things through folks who choose to act bravely and faithfully.  What God did in the early church, and what is doing here at St. John’s is actually rather subversive. Indeed, in my estimation, if health and wholeness are to be restored on this earth, solutions will originate and be offered by plucky little groups such as our parish family.  By persisting in our gathering and our learning and our serving, we are learning to be brave. And when brave people make brave decisions and act bravely, seemingly insurmountable challenges are confronted and overcome.

So, here’s to our little parish family at St. John in the Wilderness. And here’s to all those other feisty, plucky bands of good hearted, brave folks that continue to gather and learn and serve. May our small but courageous actions bring truth and justice and peace and fairness and goodness to this beautiful but broken world.

~Father Art