Wreck. Now that I have your attention, this word has been very present to me and with me all week long.
It used to be used, almost solely, about train wrecks. And this week is the 10th anniversary of the Lac-Megantic, QC train disaster and historic loss of life. Then there is Twitter. Just when I thought that the wreckage around it couldn't get any worse, suddenly there is a mass exodus. Threads is suddenly the new darling site it seems. More on that later. And then, I had a needful change in my work with OSLC. I am now half-time. This is due to financial considerations only. More on this later too. However, everywhere I seemed to turn there were things imploding and exploding around me this week. And then I noticed two things that were deeply encouraging.
The first was the ability of the human spirit to shift and adapt to new circumstances.
- The train wreck 10 years ago is finally resulting in the moving of the rail line out of town. Away from the potential hazards of being just meters away from any disaster that may happen, the people of Lac-Megantic are happy to finally see this happen.
- Threads has sprung up in response to the problems that Twitter was having. We will see if this new platform can perform according to expectations; especially those of the users and former Twitter followers.
- In India, hope has become reality. I recommend that you view the Kuttamperoor River Restoration video on youtube.com to see how a cesspool of a former river can be revived.
- And being half time. Even though you will see me less, many of my involvements will still go on. Watch for it.
Second, we are not alone in wrecks. Notice the situation Jesus encounters in Matthew 11. You couldn't find two approaches to faith that are more different than Jesus and his cousin John the Baptist. And both are considered train wrecks and failures by the standards of the faith. Ponder that.
What we see as awful may contain seeds of new growth; new opportunities; new ways of living out the faith. Our old church structures no longer work. So, how adaptable are we to new ways of doing, being, and creating church? The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to try. Pr. Scott
