“One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

“When my son, William, was young, we belonged to a small country church. On Communion day, deacons would pass around the “bread and juice.” One Sunday, we attended a church out of town that was more formal. What our church called bread and juice, this one referred to as elements, a word William didn’t understand. As Communion began, the pastor said, “If the deacons will come forward, the elements will pass among us.” William was suddenly excited and I didn’t know why. Then he leaned toward me, whispering something. With all eyes on us we made a hasty exit. All the way to the car, he protested. “Mom, we’re going to miss the circus. The pastor said the elephants were going to pass among us!”

“When I’m feeling most ghost-like, it’s your remembering me that helps remind me that I actually exist. When I’m feeling sad, it’s my consolation. When I’m feeling happy, it’s part of why I feel that way. If you forget me, one of the ways I remember who I am will be gone. If you forget me, part of who I am will be gone. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” the good thief said from his cross (Luke 23:42). There are perhaps no more human words in all of Scripture, no prayer we can pray so well.” (Buechner, Frederick. Listening to Your Life. HarperOne. Kindle Edition.)

The more I read about the history of America, the more I realize that our collective inability to remember our past has been an issue for our country since its inception. I have been reading a lot about Abraham Lincoln these last two months, and spending some time in understanding the mid-19^th century political atmosphere. Here is just one description of the political move toward what they called “Sensationalism”: “The popular turn toward sensationalism that occurred during the 1830s and ’40s brought not only mob violence but also physical fights between journalists or politicians. The New York Evening Post editor William Cullen Bryant took a cow whip to a rival, who seized the whip and thrashed Bryant in front of City Hall. In 1836 the New York editor James Watson Webb, who was involved in two duels against politicians, publicly whipped James Gordon Bennett for twenty minutes as crowds cheered.” (Abe, Abraham Lincoln in His Times – David S. Reynolds; p. 120)

Americans come from a people of true independence, a fighting character, and the drive to be free. Our country was formed by people who were tired of being told what to do by a royalty who lived an ocean away. It is no wonder that we still find it hard to try to bridge differences and find common ground with those with whom we disagree – confrontation seems to be written in our DNA. Perhaps it is time to discern our own ability to listen and to remember the mistakes of our past. We must learn to appreciate and acknowledge that people of different beliefs and political leanings exist – and have value – because they exist. Just because someone says something controversial does not mean they are an idiot – and it also does not mean they believe what they say. Some of the smartest people in the world have held seriously radical views and dangerous opinions– and some of the most challenged people have had brilliant insights.

A new year gives us all the possibility of new insight – and the opportunity to allow faith to be our guide rather than pure emotion.

Pastor Dave