Historical Hopes

 


I have been thinking about history a lot.  Even before, on the 269th day of 2021, we had an amazing historical sermon this morning at our Anniversary Sunday service at Old First.  We are in the process of renovating our sanctuary at 4th and Race and we have to, as a Congregation, make some decisions about some of the iconic features of our space.  We already have decided (much to my personal chagrin) to move away from pews and go, for about 90% of our seating space, to chairs.  Personally, I do not like this decision, but I understand why so many people want it and I will have to (hopefully) get used to it.  But there are other decisions about artwork, and other details of the sanctuary where the history of why they were created and why they were chosen is important for us to know, to put our decisions in the proper context.  So, on 9/26/2021, I have historical hopes.  Not only for those of us at our church, but also for the decision makers that are governing us out of this pandemic (hopefully).  SO much is going on these days, so many issues.... but history can inform us as to what might happen if we choose to ignore what is in front of us or if we make decisions that ignore what and those who have come before us.  I think that the complete history of our past needs to be taught in our schools, I think that historical events of the past are quite similar to the events of the present.  As they say, what was old is "new again."  I hope we learn from our past and I hope we can make better decisions.  Those in the future who will be looking at our times as history depend on it.

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