Word for Word
by Rev. Kim Gates
Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and
Forest Mills United Methodist Church
Since I’ve not lived in Waukon a full year, I believe I can say I’m still “the new” pastor at St. Paul’s and Forest Mills United Methodist Churches. And I have to say my move here has definitely been a good one! I think the beauty which I’ve experienced in this part of the state is due not only to the natural surroundings but also the people – as if beauty of the natural world has infiltrated personalities/behaviors of the people who live in it!
I recently found this also true of the people of Ireland while I was on vacation in March. There the land is beautiful but rugged and oozing with the history of civilization. The sense of ‘history’ was recognized in the pride of the people along with them being very friendly/welcoming like the beauty of the land, and hard working like the land’s ruggedness. I believe it makes perfect sense, plus I believe science has pretty much proven that our surroundings will affect our behavior/demeanor. This is why it is important to pay attention to the people we hang out with, the music we listen to and the things we take into our bodies – what we surround ourselves with, or “feed our senses” with, will directly affect our attitude and lifestyle because what goes IN will eventually come OUT!
As Jesus said in Mark 7:20-21, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come…” So if you are surrounded by decaying buildings, foul language, put-downs and negative people in general you’ll have a consistent diet of dark and degrading “food for your senses.” You will also begin to expel OUT what has been going IN.
While in Ireland, at times I felt a melancholy because of the centuries in which the Irish people had been degraded, forced to live in decay and fed a dark diet of oppression. And that ‘darkness’ which was woven INto their daily lives did come OUT! It came “out” in blatant and/or covert war within the Church – Protestants vs. Catholics/Catholics vs. Protestants! Hatred was bred on both sides based on political stances, not doctrines of faith. How they were able to reconcile killing each other in the face of Christ’s commandment to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) and the 6th of the Ten Commandments, “Thou shall not murder,” is a testament to how the rhetoric fed to the people contributed to an atmosphere which was extremely unhealthy! Praise God that atmosphere is beginning to heal.
Even here in the good old US of A we must be wary of those who would seek to feed us fear; an “us vs. them” mentality; or to engage in blame games. A steady diet of how “they” (whoever ‘they’ are) are in the wrong is dangerous and will lead to less than Christ-like behavior from “us”! I feel so blessed to be in a place in which ecumenical activity is freely engaged – to be in an environment where Christian brothers and sisters, regardless of denominational polity or political views, can come together in safety and fellowship and joy.
So thank you Allamakee County for being what and who you are! I pray I can make healthy contributions which feed INto the beauty of this region so that Christ-like (i.e. loving) behavior is always part of the OUT-reach here.
