Rev. John Hudson, the senior pastor at
Pilgrim Church United Church of Christ in Sherborn, MA, is back from a 7 day trip to New Orleans to help rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has penned an incredible article about American idealism.
From the Wicked Local Sherborn:
With every home they gut and rebuild, with every smile they share, with every muscle that strains to lift up a new roof or replace a front door, these eager and energetic volunteers reminded me about what is best in America: our idealism. Idealism: the passionate belief in seeing things not just as they are but also as they might one day be. Our American spirit may seem pretty battered and bruised in our all-too-cynical and fatigued 21st century, as we struggle in two wars and live in post-9/11 fear, as the economy stumbles and our leaders continually disappoint. But like a persistent old friend who refuses to be shut out of the conversation, American idealism is alive and well. We just have to look for it. We just have to be a part of it, maybe again, maybe for the first time.
I can't help but contrast this sense of optimism against those leaders in our denomination who are more interested in talking about problems and creating theatrics than they are in actually doing something about them (myself included). Rev. Hudson's essay is truly thought provoking and inspiring.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention, to our hearts, to our spirits.