Early in life, the labels that are used to describe us can be very hurtful. I (and my family) were considered by my peers to be “nerds,” “geeks,” old-fashioned. Sunday dinner after church was followed by quiet time inside with classical music playing. “My friend wants to know if I can play outside”. “Arthur,…it’s Sunday”. I think now I would self-label as being an “old soul”. By that I don’t mean longing for the good ole days constantly, but still cherishing classical music, Christian values, simpler times.

I (we) was always a late adapter when it came to technology. We would always wait until the latest gadget or device came down in price. Computers? Oh, how my old soul resisted those suckers! Too Orwellian or whatever. Do we really need those? When the answer became yes, both personally and professionally, I was so far behind the curve I was on a different planet.

Churches with parishioners our (advanced) age wrongly surmise that only the young people can “figure that tech stuff out”. That assumption was proven wrong by one of my parishioners, who at the age of 98 was talking with me quite knowingly about computers. It has taken me longer, but gradually I have realized that it (I) can be both old soul and “techie.”

Now, I embrace my inner, old soul while also appreciating the latest gizmo or software upgrade, the newest “Praise & Worship” song on Joy88 FM – an approach to God’s story. We do our faith a disservice when we insist that it be rigid, unchanging, legalistic. Because our bedrock belief is in a story about a person, Jesus, and a people of faith, we are freed from old constraints of thinking. We can love freely and unconditionally, as our Heavenly Father does. Our souls, secure in our destiny, can live in modern times that are vastly different from our upbringing. The basic tenets need not change, dear friends in Christ.

Pastor Art