I've been watching the destruction of the old high school from my back window. The deep "boom boom boom" shakes my house like distant thunder or a kid's bass car speakers at 3 in the morning. I walk by the twisted skeletal remains on my way to work and imagine myself in some war torn city.
People have different reactions to the school coming down and it's interesting to see their reactions. Some are angry. Some are gleeful. Some are pensive. Some get choked up. Some have a far away look in their eyes. I spoke to one person who taught in the school years ago and he said he watched them tear apart his room from the sidewalk. When he said this he was positively giddy.
I'm reminded of the passage from Mark 13:1-2 when the disciples, like all tourists in big cities, are gawking at the large buildings in temple complex in Jerusalem. "Look, Teacher! What large stones!" Jesus reminds them that buildings do not last.
It's hard to hear that. Buildings have, in general, lifetimes that exceed the human span. They seem solid, unmovable, permanent, trustworthy. But buildings are transitory. They cannot last. Jesus also said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) We need to be careful where we place our hearts and how we invest our spirit.
On the other hand, it's good to take care of buildings so that they can accomplish their missions. We need good schools not for the sake of the buildings, but for what happens in them. We need good churches, again, not for the sake of the buildings, but for what happens in and through them. The building, inasmuch as it has a mission, is important. We are fortunate that we have had generations of good caretakers of the building where United Church is housed.
It is a sorrow, however, when the building becomes the mission. Unfortunately, I've seen this happen over and over with churches. The building itself becomes the focus of the community - its restoration or maintenance. It's sad to see that happen. So much energy and time and money going into keeping a building alive which has lost the mission for which it was built. I pray that never happens to our congregation.
I'm reminded of a children's hymn that you've probably heard...
The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,
the church is not a resting place, the church is a people.
I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together.
All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we're the church together.
Couldn't have said it better myself.