Living in the Spirit
June 30, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years…. David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. –2 Samuel 5:4-5, 9-10

What is in a name or a symbol for that matter? The Star of David is an instant sign of his impact on the world. Years ago my parents visited me just after I had purchased the book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. It was a large book and was still dressed in its dust cover where it stood prominently in one of my bookcases along with several other books of history including a couple of sets of books on the Civil War and Allan W. Eckert’s massive work The Winning of America Series describing the conflicts between new settlers and indigenous peoples. I am not an historian but I enjoy history and do believe it is important to understand it in our attempts not to repeat it.

The dust cover had a very big swastika on the back. My mother said, “I would not have that book in my house.” I explained it was a critical analysis of the rise of Hitler and she accepted that but insisted everyone who saw the swastika might not be aware of the content of the book. I removed the dust cover, relegated it to the trash, and returned the book with its plain spine to the shelf. Hitler was only interesting history to me to my mother and father, he was pure evil.

The flying of the Confederate flag and the use of derogatory symbols and names related to Indians have been in the news recently. Such symbols do need to be retained in museums so that we never forget the events they represent and we learn from any mistakes made. Symbols from our pasts incorporated in our daily lives need to remind us of the good we can glean from our history like the Cross of Jesus’ Love.

Prayer: Lord, help us let go of any foolish tensions that divide us and hold on to those things that make us better for loving you and loving one another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.