Lost in the '50s

Luke 15:1-10

We are remembering in nostalgic ways the era of the 1950s this month as a part of our Feast of Beginnings.  But it is also important to remember the struggle of the 1950s.

Here at home:

1951:  On November 1, 1951, fire completely destroys the Evangelical United Brethren church building. While the building is a complete loss, the new organ, a piano, the pews, and some chancel furniture are spared. Damaged but not destroyed, these items will be renewed and reused in the new church building. Once again, the Left Hand Grange makes its hall available for worship services while the church is rebuilding.

And on a national level: 

When Rosa Parks refused on the afternoon of Dec. 1, 1955, to give up her bus seat so that a white man could sit, it is unlikely that she fully realized the forces she had set into motion and the controversy that would soon swirl around her. Other black women had similarly refused to give up their seats on public buses and had even been arrested, including two young women earlier that same year in Montgomery, Ala. But this time the outcome was different. 

(from Montgomeryboycott.com)

We sometimes idolize the eras of bygone years.  We see them through a lens that has faded into more myth than reality.  Have you ever seen the movie "Midnight in Paris" by Woody Allen? The lead character, played by Owen Wison, does that. He is infatuated with the era of the 1920s in Paris and he falls in love with someone that is infatuated with the 1890s.  They don't see any charm at all in their present era and also fail to see the dark and difficult times in the era they idealize.

The 1950s are not "Grease." They are not "Happy Days" although many of us had some happy days back then. They are just like now... some really great things happening and some really somber things happening.  Let us not get so idealized about an era gone by that we miss the beauty of this present moment.

The scripture this week reminds us of the joy in finding what was lost.  The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost soul.  We are in the midst of searching for what we might have lost along the way in the faith journey. But we might also remember to be joyous with what we have found... or kept... the church alive and well here  and now.

You won't want to miss church this week. We will be looking at a glorious slide show with many images of the 1950s... if you were around then, you might be in a couple.

If you have any thoughts on the 1950s, please email me or comment below.