THE ANCIENT WAYS ARE MY WAYS

Psalm 127:1

One of the things that I have discovered over the years and through experience is that one of the reasons why groups and institutions seem to fail is because of their inability to incorporate the new into the old.  I have seen this in camps, communities, and churches, wherever human beings try to organize themselves so that they can function well and be efficient in what they are doing.  They gather together and through a lot of hard work and trial and error, create systems that work for them.  Over time those with the original vision, holders of the original living organism, the seed of that vision, begin to pass away.  They are replaced by people who had not suffered through the hard work of trial and error and come in to reform the old, seemingly irrelevant ways with their new thoughts and ideas of how to build a new way of doing what needs to be done, which usually begins with throwing out all the old ways.  Then, of course, the cycle is repeated again and again; out with the old and in with the new bigger, better, more improved

model.  As an older person I find that process disconcerting and unsettling, to say the least.

My faith is founded on a God who is ever changing and never changing; always different and always the same; who is as relevant today, in my life, as he was “In the beginning”.  My faith is founded on ancient ways being fulfilled, not replaced.  God’s ways are timeless and cyclical, not time bound and linear.  There is the security of strong roots and the freedom of the wind of the Spirit that blows where it will.

I will always remember the wise woman I spoke with on the phone as I was trying to convince her of a tree treatment the company I was working for wanted to provide.  She lived in the mountains outside of town and I could hear the sincere smile on her face and simplicity of heart when she said, “Oh, honey; these trees have been here long before I came and they will be here long after I pass, and they are doing just fine.”

That’s the Truth about the things that God creates, builds, and organizes.  That’s the wisdom of the ages and the newness of today that my faith in God rests on; nothing more, nothing less.  Every time I look at an old, seasoned tree a sincere smile comes to my face and a simplicity of heart warms my soul.  “Oh honey; I’ve been here long before you came and I will be here long after you pass, and you’re doing just fine.”