Walls and Work
From The Pastor’s Desk—
Robert Frost is one of my favorite poets. I have always appreciated his description of the New England landscape, his appreciation of the beauty of the everyday, and his dynamic sense that humans are in constant dialogue with their surroundings (whether they know it or not). One of his most famous works, “Mending Wall”, begins with a joke: Something there is that doesn’t love a wall, That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it… Just as frost heaves tumble the wall, Frost wishes to topple that which divides with no seeming purpose. His neighbor, with who he is repairing the wall that divides their properties, keeps repeating a piece of wisdom passed down by his father: good fences make good neighbors.
Though Frost challenges the idea, there is some truth in his neighbor’s sentiment. As they share the common work of maintaining their fence, they learn more about one another. Even as the poet rejects all that divides, their work helps to unite them in common purpose.
One of our scriptures for this coming Sunday contains words of wisdom for the early church in Ephesus. The people are encouraged to put away the things which defined their old lives and embrace a new life in Christ. The hallmarks of that life include speaking truthfully, not letting anger dominate, putting away bitterness and wrath. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
This work reflects God’s love for all creation, and positions the church to be able to reach out in love to its own members and the community around them. Their common commitment to the example of Christ transforms their way of being in the world. Like Frost, they disdain that which divides, but also actively work to transform themselves and others. So may it be for us as well. May we use our actions and our words to give grace to those who hear. In a world filled with anger, outrage, and hatred, may we live into the simple truth found in our hymn: they will know we are Christians by our love.
—Pastor Jon
