By Brent Woodard
Windermere Valley Shared Ministry
When I was a child, I had a morning paper route.
One winter morning, with loads of snow coming down, my mother and sister went with me. I was sick, and they came with my mom’s car to help me deliver the papers. There was a moment when we were on top of a hill. I directed them to take a shortcut and drive down a steep alley road. This was not wise direction on that morning.
The road took a 90-degree turn right before a cliff, which was above a car dealership building. I would take the shorter path down a long flight of stairs, where I would deliver a paper and meet them at the bottom. When I got to the bottom, I turned around and saw, to my horror, that they had lost control of the car just before the turn.
The car was sliding and they were about to go off the cliff. Just at the edge of the cliff there was one old white-painted wooden post. The car slid up to the post, hit it, and stopped.
After going up and helping them get squared away, I hugged that post. Things turned out okay, but I still remember the feeling of helplessness, fear and dread as I watched the situation unfold.
To some degree I am getting the same feeling watching what is going on in the United States. I studied American history in university.
I read books on American history in my spare time. I like observing that country from afar. But now it is like watching a very bad accident about to happen. There have been some old posts put in place in the past to keep people from going off the edge. But some of those posts seem to be no longer holding or are getting taken away.
I’m sorry that there is some representation of the Christian religion involved in this potential wreck. I know the Christian religion is not a unified conglomerate. There is a very broad spectrum of thought and of thinkers.
As one who cares about Christianity, I am sorry that there is a portion of those representing the religion who, I believe, are on the wrong side of history and who, I believe, are on the wrong side of compassion. I suppose strange times make for strange bedfellows.
Not to overstate the metaphor, but in my mind, people are getting in bed with the wrong characters. Is faith a driving motivation here, or is it fear? Is it a lack of trust in the future? A lack of trust in the unfolding of society? A lack of trust in change? Do people see their tribe diminishing and so grasp at possible solutions, turning blind eyes to so many things that they might be, well, selling their souls?
The possibility of power is seductive. What comes to mind is the story of Jesus being offered all the kingdoms of the world if he would just bow down and worship the devil. Jesus said no, but it is easy for less aware humans to say yes.
I felt powerless as a child watching my mother and sister slide toward that cliff. Sometimes tragedies come and good things break down. Still, I’m grateful for thoughtful adults who put posts in place on calm sunny days, in case they might be useful in saving people in harrowing conditions, or from themselves.
