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What if the Future is Different than we Think?
American Anglican Council ^ | 8/25/2005 | The Very Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl

Posted on 08/25/2005 12:23:07 PM PDT by sionnsar

I don’t mind labels. You can call me an Evangelical or a Cranmerian Anglican or an emotional charismatic type. I just don’t mind the label. It can identify you and get a conversation going. You know where you stand and are not constamment fiddling around with your own identity.

Not everyone feels this way. For some people, labels are confining and judgmental. I understand that, too. But for me, labels sometimes work.

Like “winners” and “losers” in the Christian Church. Some people resist putting it this way. They say, “There are no losers or winners in Christianity. That subverts the inclusive character of the Message.” Again, I disagree. We have to face sinful facts before we can face redeeming facts. We losers are on the outs from the standpoint of ECUSA’s self-understanding since August 5, 2003, and the winners are carrying most dioceses and most parishes and most places.

I can live with that description. It is accurate, so it helps me know where I am.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us There is a painting by N.C. Wyeth entitled “The Wreck of the Covenant.” The great American illustrator painted it in 1913 for an edition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped. It is a striking parable, for me at least, of Episcopal winners and losers.

In the picture, which is now on display in the Brandywine River Museum at Chadd’s Ford, Pennsylvania, the sailing ship named “The Covenant” is sailing off in the background on a stormy sea. BUT the main character of the story, depicted in the foreground, is cast away upon the ocean, clinging for life onto a stick of wood. It is a terrible scene. He is being left, bobbing alone in the furious sea as the ship of which he was a part hurtles past him out of sight.

When Mary and I saw this painting recently, we each had the same reaction. For us, the ship is the Episcopal Church. I am the poor desolated soul, cast away and alone. Now of course, that is an exaggerated projection. But like all good works of art, the picture connects with the observer’s real interior self. Wyeth’s picture was gut-level for me: the loser, holding onto, well, Trinity School, for life; cast away from the familiar and life-long moorings of an institution that is now ploughing off we-don’t-know-where.

Yet I had one other thought. A man I love and respect came up to us recently in Philadelphia and said this: “If you, and Trinity, can just hang in there, for eight or ten years now, an awful lot of people are going to come back to you. ECUSA is going to run out of money and people, at least in a lot of places. And what Trinity offers will still be good.” To put it another way, “Don’t give up the ship!” (John Paul Jones)

You could almost turn N.C. Wyeth’s evocative picture around. Maybe in ten years, you and I will be back on that ship. Maybe we’ll be sailing back to pick up survivors. Maybe the shoe will be on the other foot. And then our job will be to do everything in our power to collect our ragtag fugitive fleet, one-time “winners” and long-time “losers.” The subject and the object of the painting, in other words, could switch.

I think such a switch is very possible. Especially if Trinity can stand fast, focused and eyes on the Prize, the Prize being the Gospel of Christ’s Salvation proffered to a last-chance world.

So I accept “loser” status for now. And bow to it. And if the worm turns, then I hope we will be given the Grace to scour the seas for survivors.

–The Very Rev. Dr. Paul Zahl is Dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry


TOPICS: Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 08/25/2005 12:23:08 PM PDT by sionnsar
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To: ahadams2; Fractal Trader; Zero Sum; anselmcantuar; Agrarian; coffeecup; Paridel; keilimon; ...
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

2 posted on 08/25/2005 12:24:06 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity || Iran Azadi)
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To: sionnsar

bttt


3 posted on 08/25/2005 12:29:23 PM PDT by Dark Skies (" For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. " Matthew 6:21)
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To: sionnsar

What would totally freak me out is if the future is exactly the way I think it will be.


4 posted on 08/25/2005 12:30:53 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
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To: Publius6961

Well, you're doing better than me. Too many possibilities.


5 posted on 08/25/2005 12:38:29 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity || Iran Azadi)
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To: sionnsar
"What if the Future is Different than we Think?"

Well, at least I can stop worrying about the Morlocks and the Elois.

6 posted on 08/25/2005 12:58:49 PM PDT by xJones
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To: sionnsar
Well, I guess he hasn't read the book (or maybe he has, and he's just being charitable!)

The "good ship Covenant", captained by a thief and scoundrel (and attempted murderer), with an actual murderer (of Ransome the cabin boy) for a mate, struck a reef and sank shortly after Davie was washed overboard.

7 posted on 08/25/2005 1:34:24 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Well, with all due respect, he'd taken a different tack. Or at least is open for same.

I rather felt the same way, many years ago. I wouldn't be posting these threads now but to continue Arlin's mission to those in, or leaving, ECUSA. A bit differently from Greg Griffith (here it's more reporting the news). But I still get The Question from time to time, from those who want to leave ECUSA but remain Anglican. I suffered through that once; maybe that's why I'm still here, posting.

I'd rather not. Watching that ship founder doesn't carry the agony and loss it once was, but it's not fun. And to quote Greg, "As far as how long I’ll stick around, I can assure you I won’t be here forever."

8 posted on 08/25/2005 2:03:56 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity || Iran Azadi)
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To: sionnsar
???? I'm not sure what you mean.

I was just noting the actual story line of the book. And wondering if the author has read it. And if so what he may think about it.

9 posted on 08/25/2005 2:09:44 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: AnAmericanMother

I don't think he was intent on following the story; he was focused on the painting itself.


10 posted on 08/25/2005 2:29:55 PM PDT by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com† || (To Libs:) You are failing to celebrate MY diversity || Iran Azadi)
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To: sionnsar

I see the word "constamment" and I wonder if this was written by Norm Crosby.


11 posted on 08/25/2005 3:46:43 PM PDT by Marauder (You can't stop sheep-killing predators by putting more restrictions on the sheep.)
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To: sionnsar

Different FROM (what we think), not different THAN.

AAARRRRGGHHH!


12 posted on 08/25/2005 3:47:52 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Oklahoma is the cultural center of the universe ... take me back to Tulsa!)
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To: Tax-chick

I'm glad someone else caught that; my Mama hammered that one home along with "the reason is because" -- the reason is MEANS because....

I think the future will be not only different from what we imagine, but that it will be different from anything we CAN imagine. Thirty years ago I would not have imagined the world as it is now. Would you? Did you?


13 posted on 08/25/2005 4:00:56 PM PDT by KateatRFM
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To: KateatRFM
Thirty years ago I would not have imagined the world as it is now. Would you? Did you?

No, I don't think so. As I recall, we were expecting the Cold War to go on forever. We were heading into the Carter years (egad!). I'm glad things have turned out differently from what we anticipated in 1975!

14 posted on 08/25/2005 4:08:03 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Oklahoma is the cultural center of the universe ... take me back to Tulsa!)
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To: sionnsar

Then it's really funny that the ship isn't what it seemed (which some might say is true of ECUSA.)


15 posted on 08/25/2005 4:14:35 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: Tax-chick

I was riding a motorcycle, making 10% of the money I'm making now, chasing hockey players (mainly the Los Angeles Kings) and living in California. The most important people in my life were Starsky and Hutch. And having escaped marriage and the Mormon church, I was, I believe, a Lutheran. Today I am living in Toronto, working at a job that didn't exist in 1975, and just about to head to Montreal to a Champ Car race on the first class overnight train. And I am 'between religions' now, waiting for one to come along that actually doesn't believe they were the Ten Suggestions.....


16 posted on 08/25/2005 4:17:42 PM PDT by KateatRFM
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To: KateatRFM

I was 9 years old in 1975 :-). At that time, I think I planned to be a lawyer and marry a Navy pilot (everyone we knew was in the Navy.) Later, I was going to be an Old Maid with Cats, and live in the Watergate and be IRS Commissioner.

Now I'm expecting my 8th baby, at 39, and looking forward to way too many more diapers :-). Funny how things turn out!


17 posted on 08/25/2005 4:22:31 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Oklahoma is the cultural center of the universe ... take me back to Tulsa!)
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