Ordinarily Extraordinary

I follow the church year.  The very idea of re-tracing the life of Jesus during the course of the year absolutely sets my heart ablaze.  It is one of those great “checks and balances” which lovingly reminds the church to remember – and to remember well.   In today’s world of emails, Facebook, blogging, twittering, IM, etc.. it is easy to get awash in a download of information and not take time to stop and remember.  G. K. Chesterton once said that “tradition is the greatest form of democracy.”  What he meant, I think, was that if we only listen to the voices which are clamoring around us (and with twitter we can now be in the constant presence of hundreds of voices!) then we shut ourselves off from the most important voices of all; namely, those who have gone before us.   Every generation has its share of blind spots.  When we include the voices and perspectives of those from the past, they expose our blind spots and, even more importantly, point their finger at the latent heresies which so easily shroud what we so glibly refer to as our “Christian” lives.
This blog is devoted to thinking about things.  I hope to allow the perspective of the church throughout the ages to weigh in regularly.
Oh, by the way, we are now in the season which the Methodists call Kingdomtide.  However, I like the older term, Ordinary Time.  For me, it reminds me that the lives we live are often in the “ordinary” zone rather than the “extra-ordinary” zone.  Blogs and twitters are one of the best reminders as to just how ordinary our lives can be.  Yet, this is the very context where the gospel must penetrate.  Just as the church year spans the “waiting” of Advent or the glorious “celebration” of Easter, it also reminds us of the ebb and flow of Ordinary Time – the time between the end of Pentecost and the beginning of Advent when we just have to follow Christ in day to day living.  All human enterprises, however noble, always end up slogging their way into the swamps of idolatry.  It is so easy – even in the church – especially in the church – to end up in the “swamp” even while we sing praises and go through all the motions.  Ordinary Time reminds us of the importance of walking with Christ each and every day.  Ordinary Time reminds us to be vigilant and spiritually awake long after the initial glory and victory of Easter begins to pass.  So, join me in the journey…I’m looking forward to it.


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