Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Nothing New Under The Sun
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
— Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV)
This spring, I planted my two raised garden beds, starting my backyard gardening journey. No mustard seeds planted yet (that’s a callback, more on that in a moment.) I am doing succession planting, where early crops will be replaced with things that will provide a bounty in late summer and into the fall.
Some plants are thriving. A few are struggling. A few seem determined to test my faith more thoroughly than any of life’s inconveniences before or since.
One thing gardening teaches rather quickly is that nature is remarkably honest. Turn over a rock and you will discover life is already hard at work. Plants reach for sunlight. Insects build homes. Creatures find food. Sometimes two bugs are engaged in activities that remind us that life has been finding ways to continue for a very long time.
Nothing new under the sun.
The same can be said of humanity.
Every generation seems convinced that it is facing challenges unlike any generation before it. We look around and wonder if people have ever been this divided. This anxious. This angry. This uncertain.
Yet Solomon reminds us that human beings have been human beings for a very long time.
The fears we carry are not new. The mistakes we make are not new. The ways we disappoint one another are not new. Even the tendency to divide ourselves into groups and convince ourselves that our disagreements are somehow unique is not new. There is nothing new under the sun. Yet hidden within that observation is an unexpected comfort.
Problems not new? Neither are the answers!
Love is not new. Compassion is not new. Forgiveness is not new. Generosity is not new. Neighbors helping neighbors is not new. People carrying one another through difficult times is not new. God’s people have been doing these things for thousands of years, and thank God for that!
Some of you may remember that earlier this year we reflected on the Parable of the Mustard Seed. We spoke about planting small things in faith and trusting God with the growth.
Now summer has arrived, and perhaps it is time to ask a different question.
How are the gardens doing?
A seed planted in spring does not remain a seed forever. It must be watered, protected, and nurtured. Weeds must be pulled. Space must be made for healthy growth.
Faith often works the same way.
The moments of inspiration matter. The decisions to begin matter. The seeds matter. But growth happens in the ordinary days that follow.
Back to Acts
The early Church understood this. They did not simply plant seeds of faith and walk away. They cared for one another. They encouraged one another. They prayed together, shared burdens, and cultivated the community God had entrusted to them.
Perhaps that is part of our calling as well.
Not only to plant mustard seeds, but to tend the garden.
There is an old saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Gardeners understand this instinctively. Sunlight reveals everything: the weeds, the flowers, the healthy growth, and the places that need attention.
Scripture often works the same way. God’s truth reveals what needs correction, but it also nurtures what is good.
A gardener does not spend all day staring at weeds. The goal is not merely identifying what is wrong. The goal is helping something better grow.
Perhaps that is part of our calling as Christians. Not merely pointing out what is wrong with the world, winning arguments, or proving ourselves correct, but cultivating something better. We are called to plant seeds of kindness, grow communities of encouragement, help people find hope, offer forgiveness, make room at the table, and bear one another’s burdens.
As I sat down to write this month’s letter, I realized I may have stumbled into a theme this year without entirely meaning to.
Again and again I find myself returning to the same ideas: encouragement, compassion, helping one another, and the example of the early Church. Apparently, I keep finding my way back to the book of Acts. Perhaps that should not surprise me.
Acts shows us Christianity in motion. Not Christianity as a building, an institution, or a political movement. It shows us Christianity as people. Ordinary people. Imperfect people. People trying to follow Christ while living in an imperfect world. Perhaps that is where Ecclesiastes and Acts unexpectedly meet. Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the sun. Acts shows us what God’s people have always done about it.
Barnabas, Our Favorite Recurring Character
The believers in Acts did not live in perfect times. They faced uncertainty, disagreement, persecution, and hardship. Yet they continued to pray together, encourage one another, share burdens, and help wherever they could. The circumstances were difficult, but their response remained remarkably consistent.
I go back to Barnabas. Not because he was the most famous or because he performed the most miracles, but because he consistently encouraged others.
It is not my place to grant sainthood, and I suspect Barnabas would have been uncomfortable with the attention anyway. But if Christians were allowed a Patron Saint of “Just Be Decent To People”, our reliable Barnabas would certainly be on my short list.
Frankly, if half of social media adopted the Order of Saint Barnabas, Patron Saint of Just Be Decent To People, civilization would improve by Tuesday. Not perfect of course, humans remain committed to ever creative nonsense. But it would improve.
Jesus Himself said:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
— John 13:35 (KJV)
Succession Planting of Faith
Earlier this year I reflected on the differences between my earthly father, Dr. Davy, and my own journey of faith. Dr. Davy often spoke of the Sword of Christ. There is certainly a place for conviction, courage, and standing for what is right. The world still needs people willing to defend the truth.
Yet as I continue reading the Gospels and the book of Acts, I find myself increasingly drawn to another aspect of Christ: Christ who heals, comforts, feeds the hungry, sits with the wounded, and restores what has been broken. Frankly, the New Testament contains a surprising amount of the second and far less of the first than many people remember.
Barnabas just kept showing up and helping people. Jesus spent a remarkable amount of His ministry healing people, feeding people, teaching people, and reminding them that they were loved by God. In a world constantly asking us to choose sides, I find myself more interested in choosing neighbors. Human beings have always found reasons to divide. Yet God’s people have always found ways to heal.
There is nothing new under the sun. The bad is not new. The good is not new. The choice remains ours.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceaseth, his mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
— Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV)
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee for the wisdom found in Thy Word and for the reminder that while generations come and go, Thy faithfulness remains unchanged.
Help us not to become discouraged by the troubles we see around us. Remind us that Thou hast guided Thy people through every season, every challenge, and every generation.
Teach us to be encouragers. Teach us to be peacemakers. Teach us to be people who help others carry their burdens.
Give us hearts that are quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, and quick to offer kindness.
Help us to cultivate what is good, uproot what is harmful, and leave the world a little brighter than we found it.
May our words bring encouragement.
May our actions bring healing.
May our lives reflect the love of Christ to all those we meet.
We thank Thee for mercies that are new every morning beneath the same old sun.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
Yours In Christ,
Kelly Kendrick Sister Cathy
Volunteer Bishop Of the Church