Reflections From Sunday Evening

I spent the past week leading a class on Methodist History. Generally my life is lived in the moment. Like you I plan my week and together our staff puts together plans for the next several weeks and even months. We do practice long range planning but that becomes less essential with the rapid pace of change in our times. It was refreshing to think of things historically. I think about John Wesley's Aldersgate experience where he felt his heart strangely warmed. We consider this a watershed event in John Wesley's life and faith. This took place May 28, 1738. In an historical context Wesley sent his mother a letter 13 years earlier stating his intention to "make religion the chief business of his life." A number of years elapse between commitment and significant faith breakthrough. American Methodism was initiated at the "Christmas Conference" beginning on December 24, 1784. 229 years have passed. What is it like to put things in their historical setting? About 1771 the Methodist people began debating and arguing over the issue of slavery. Finally in 1844 the church divided into the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South. It took roughly 75 years to make a decision to move in separate directions. Then in 1939 the Methodist Church came back together. It took 95 years to re-unite. A lot takes place over time. When I look at our history it puts current events in a different perspective. Whether we are talking about the United Methodist Church or a broader look at faith we might see that God is always at work. Furthermore God is a God of history and will continue to work through all our ups and downs. Even greater, God is a God of eternity. It tends to put my current issues in a different perspective. We had a great day today. I hope you've had a good day too. steve