Recently, one of my daughters informed the family she doesn’t like history. My first reaction was to think about how much I didn’t like history at her age, but I knew that wasn’t the correct parenting maneuver. As I gathered my thoughts, I decided to affirm that yes, some history is boring, but without history, none of us would even exist and we wouldn’t’ have any of the stuff we enjoy today.
This week the Christian church celebrates ‘history.” October 31 and November 1 are two days to remember those who have gone before us and the path they paved for our success today. As Lutheran Christians, we remember the request for insightful debate that led to the Reformation of the entire Christian faith. In addition, we remember and honor the pillars of the faith in our own lives and the life of the church.
Life is filled with seasons and rhythms. Some are fast moving and event filled and others are meant to allow us a time to pause and reflect. If we don’t pause and reflect, we will simply push forward without any clear direction or understanding of where we want to end up. More than likely, if we don’t pause and reflect, we don’t end up where we want to be.
Are you willing to pause and reflect? To seek clarity on the past and look for the next step forward? The rhythms of work and rest, of action and reflection are biblical and enriching. God created for six days and then rested. God would send seasons of prophets and apostles, and then would rest from prophecy for generations or even millennia. Are you working and resting? Are you pausing to look back and look forward?
This week and last week, we celebrate Reformation and All Saint’s Day. Join us as we reflect on how God has blessed us and how we might follow God into our future. Then do this as friends and as a family of faith. Think about your ancestors and the ancestors of the Family of Faith at Cross. Think about your spiritual mentors and all who have helped form and shape your journey. Thank God for these people then remember you are called by God to be that spiritual mentor for the people around you!
In Christ,
Erik Gauss
