Sunday, October 25, 2020
Sunday Reflection: PBS Sunday school
So, one great thing has come out of 2020 for me-- which is one more than many people have gotten, I know.
When I lived in Waco (2000-2010), I was part of a phenomenal Sunday school class at 7th & James Baptist Church, informally known as "The Heretics." In fact, it was basically what you would get if PBS had a reality show called "Sunday School." There is an Old Testament scholar. An Archeologist. A journalist and expert on black gospel music. A linguist. An education specialist. And, perhaps most intriguingly, the costumer for the Baylor theater department. Oh, and me. How is that for casting?
One thing that surprised me early on was that the costumer had so many professional insights into the Bible-- but of course she did! There are many references to what people are wearing, and that means something, something I had never considered before.
Naturally, I had to leave this wonderful part of my week behind when I left Waco for Minnesota, and that was one of the hardest parts of the move.
BUT... now we are back! On Zoom, of course-- but that is what makes it possible. And it is awesome.
We are not meant to worship and celebrate our faith alone; Jesus made that clear. And something about re-connecting with this group has super-charged my engagement with the faith, even amidst the difficulty with everything else.
How lucky am I?
The "PBS Sunday School" is an oasis of civility, a conversation among scholars who want to learn more, a collection of minds packed with proven facts and data that still have room for ideas. No questions are inappropriate, no random thought goes unexplored, no novel opinion or assertion is rejected and no diversion is untraveled.
It is chaos barely reined in by logical minds, a few paragraphs from the bible and a moderator who is a drummer. We get to go on a new adventure every Sunday.
In a world that has given us a chance to disconnect or mute anyone, there is a place where agreement is reached only after everyone is heard.
Thanks for including us. The folks.
My PBS Sunday school is Krista Tippet's show "On Being", carried by NPR at 7:00 am every Sunday here in Richmond. Unless traveling, I never miss it. Wonderful show. Based in MN!
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