Pictures
As I begin the PLAN to evaluate how ARC has impacted my faith journey, I have chosen to look at the faith culture of my youth through the pictures that were around me, and the songs that formed the heart of swedish pietism. (Evangelical Covenant Church in Mpls) Front and center (on the wall behind the altar space) was this painting of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. I recall this visual so prominent in my imagination as a child – this image and another of Jesus with the sheep formed my faith around Jesus as central – a man of great compassion and wisdom, a man who endured great suffering (for me) and someone who walked next to me (Day-by-Day and with each passing moment strength I find to meet my trials here….a “theme” song for swedish faith).
Just these two images unpack so much…..Jesus was a good and kind human. Jesus was a white guy and 99% of those at worship were white – and also mostly swedish. There were echoes in the background of great struggle as these believers and their immediate forbears endured being “outcasts” (maybe sometimes persecuted?) from the “state church” of Sweden – they were the ones who left to follow their heart passion of prayer and dedication to the person of Jesus and faithful reading of the Bible. This was the milieu – prayer (I remember long and intense mid-week prayer meetings, challenging for a young child!!) quoting the Bible – memorizing verses – singing LOTS of songs (the B-I-B-L-E yes that’s the book for me) and kindhearted people all around. There was much to be grateful for – deep faith and trust – rousing singing – love for family – wise pastor.
Although the political landscape of the mid-60’s wasn’t so prominent in church spaces, my family embraced an openness. There was the feeling of hopefulness – we were still in the “post-war” years – and the democratic ideals around us were positive. My parents expressed sorrow over civil rights violence that they witnessed on the news….my mother worked with several native and black people and she advocated for them. My parents befriended a Bolivian family and cared for their young child. They also frequently hosted two brothers recently relocated from Viet Nam.
On Friday as we reviewed several of the questions from the first assessment, one of them asked us to look at some of the emotions connected. I felt a deep sadness – gratitude for deep faith, but sadness at the narrow way it was interpreted – so much individualism (me and my walking along with Jesus) little awareness of who was being ignored – so much focus on “our group” – swedish heritage and ethos. I learned a lot of Bible verses, but not so much on what they meant for the larger world. There was a lot of praying, but it could sometimes devolve into lists of right and wrong. LOTS of focus on attendance, sitting quietly. The leaders were white/male/wise/intellectual – sort of disconnected to the everyday. Well….this process of evaluation is just starting. I am doing a lot of writing and reflecting.
1 comment
Thank you for sharing this. I so resonate with your sense of deep sadness as you reflect. There is grief in realizing that the narrowness of “our group” has limited our understanding of God’s vast grace and mercy. Grateful for the invitation to explore the mystery and the MORE of God’s goodness.