Clinging To The Past

Our little community met to decide what to do about the covered bridge that was burned down 3 years ago. (Why did it take this long for this meeting?) It was a very good turn out. But i was disappointed with most of the discussion.

Many people spoke in favor of restoring the bridge to something as close to the original as possible. While covered bridges are very picturesque and romantic - and a great reminder of historical times - they are inherently problematic. While they were suitable for the times in which they were originally built, they ended up having a very limited practical value. Because our area is agricultural, there is lots of farm machinery. The farmers today, for the most part, have not been able to use that bridge because their tractors and wagons are too big - size and weight - for the little covered bridge. The historical groups are quite adamant about "preserving history." Most of the voices represented the desire to preserve history. "We want to have a heritage to pass on to our children," was a frequent refrain.

I'm afraid that we Americans are becoming increasingly obsessed with "holding on" to this, that or the other thing. We try to create and then hold on to "free time." We aim for and cling to our weekends. We won't give up our entertainment. We stockpile "collectibles." We gorge ourselves on trivia. Why?

I believe it is because we're empty. We have no sense of meaning to our lives so we strive to "create" meaning by the things we cling to - history, trivia, collections, etc. And it doesn't work very well. We cling to the things of the past. We cling to the stuff we can hold in our hands now. But we fail to look ahead. We don't see that all the "stuff" we hold on to now ends up being "stuff" we worry about losing. It might break; it might be stolen; it might be forgotten. Our treasures are but dust.

Jesus said, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy and theives cannot break in and steal."

O Lord, may my treasure lie only with you in eternity.