Tuesday Tidings Oct. 14, 2025

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

“This world, as a glorious apartment of the boundless palace of the sovereign Creator, is furnished with an infinite variety of animated scenes, inexpressibly beautiful and pleasing, equally free to the inspection and enjoyment of all his creatures.” Travels and Other Writings, William Bartram

The words that appear above were not written a few weeks ago by a recently trained conservation biologist.  The words that appear above were written in our country in the late 1700’s, in fact around the time of the Revolutionary War.

This quote from William Bartram strikes me for a number of reasons.

First, his appreciation of the natural world is evident and rooted in faith.

Second, there is a kind of refreshing democracy to the whole thing, the “enjoyment” of this beautiful and glorious creation is available to “all his creatures.”

Finally, there is one more phrase, that really got me thinking and in fact stuck with me for days.  “This world as a glorious apartment of the boundless palace of the sovereign Creator,” clearly demonstrates a depth of wisdom.  So often, when we speak of our world, even when we know better, we speak of our world (and sometimes even ourselves) as the center of the universe.

Bartram is much more perceptive, and the choice of the word “apartment” is pure genius.  When you live in an apartment, you are always aware that you are “a part” of a great whole.  If the folks living above you decide to have a dance party, you are immediately aware of the event.  If the next door neighbor refuses to take out their refuse, there is likely a lasting bit of olfactory effrontery.  If the landlord decides not to change any lightbulbs in the hallways and corridors, all the residents are at immediate risk.

I won’t belabor this, but I will insist that presently this is an extremely important metaphor.

While we may feel increasingly isolated, while we may more strongly identify with whatever team we have decided that we are on, in the end analysis… we are more connected than we might like to admit.

Even more importantly, the priorities that we concoct and the choices we make as individuals will eventually affect our neighbors; this is an irrefutable fact.

Jesus offered clear instruction, to “love our neighbors as ourselves.”  As we engage in some of the most important work of the Christian faith, we will soon realize that we are most certainly accountable to the Creator, and we are also called to be accountable to the neighbor.

The more thoughtful we are about maintaining the integrity of these relationships, the more beautiful and reflective of heavenly glory our communal landscapes might be.     

Question for reflection: Which of your neighbors really need your prayers and kind encouragement at the moment?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan

God of the new day, we have been employed to help build your kingdom.  Bless us with all the tools we need, that we might see to our work faithfully, embrace it joyfully, and relish every moment of our opportunity to collaborate with you.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.