The importance of history
George Santayana once stated that “those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” In that sense, anniversaries are important markers in our life’s stories that help us pause to remember where we’ve been, what’s shaped us, and where it is we’d like to go next.
The book of Daniel 2:21 reminds us that as Christians, “it is God who changes the times and the epochs; God removes kings and establishes kings; God gives wisdom to wise people and knowledge to people who understand.”
History, then, is intrinsically woven into the very creation that has been entrusted to us. Time is necessary.
Time does more than help us mark how long we have until our next appointment, meal, pay cheque, retirement, social event or meeting. Time helps us shape history. It helps us define a container in which we craft meaning.
This year has several important ‘times’ that help us remember our history and the consequences of previous actions. In particular I’m thinking of June 3, June 6, June 23, and July 20. Each of these dates has shaped the kind of community we live in and where we hope to go next.
June 3 was the release of The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Final Report. Part of the final report calls for transformative change to eradicate violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual) people. In the final report Commissioner Michéle Audette states, “To put an end to this tragedy, the rightful power and place of women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people must be reinstated, which requires dismantling the structures of colonialism within Canadian society... This is not just a job for governments and politicians. It is incumbent on all Canadians to hold our leaders to account.”
June 3 was a date many have been waiting for. It has been a long time coming. Naming the racism and misogyny that is woven into the fabric of Canadian society is an important step. Chief Commissioner Marion Buller explains that “the hard truth is that we live in a country whose laws and institutions perpetuate violations of fundamental rights, amounting to a genocide against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.”
With this report we now know our history. We’ve remembered the past and must therefore resist the temptation to repeat it. It is time to build a different society. A different Canada.
June 6 was the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings when men and women started landing on the beaches of Normandy to challenge the Nazi stronghold in Europe and the salt water turned red with the blood of the injured, dying, and dead.
It’s an important date to remember, not just for the sacrifice, yet also for the long term effects and implications. Not just because of the result, yet also because of the steps that led up to it. Do we really want to see a rise of populist governments?
Ones that engage in racist, misogynistic, and supremacist ideologies?
We know our history.
On June 6 we remembered it. Can we make the hard choices of embracing our common humanity over our differences and not repeat what we already know?
On June 23 – tomorrow at 10 a.m. – Trinity United will celebrate 109 years of Christian witness in Prince George and area at Trinity Downtown (1448 Fifth Avenue). It was 109 years ago that the first gathering for a Methodist prayer meeting happened. A small canvas tent served as both gathering place and residence for the pastor. Later that group became part of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. In 1925, that group became part of The United Church of Canada and until 2018 the congregation was known as Knox United Church. In 2018, Trinity United Church was born and the faithful witness of Knox United and all those upon whose shoulders we’ve stood for 109 years, became Trinity Downtown.
We know the history of being a powerful presence for Jesus in Prince George, specifically the downtown. We know how important that’s been over the years. That spirit remains. The ministry of Knox as Trinity Downtown continues. New ministries are planned. New programs are being offered. We know our past and want to honour it by building on it long into the future.
This July 20 is the 50th anniversary of landing on the moon, 25 years after people walked ashore in Normandy, three people walked on the moon. Just think about that. The average cell phone has exponentially more computing power than what was in the lunar lander module.
Many of the calculations the helped us step on a celestial body other than Earth for the first time were done by hand. Fifty years ago, the world took “one small step” which changed the definition of what’s possible forever. We know that history and the men and women who made it happen. We know the story of the test pilots who lost their lives. The many trials and errors that provided the learning required. We know the history.
Each of these dates reminds us of what can happen when we come together and work towards a common goal. We know that the world can be made better.
We know old attitudes can be challenged and changed. We know lives can be affected.
We know we can refuse to accept the voices that say “it can’t be done.”
We know we can address the root causes of genocide and create a different world. We know it because we know our history.
Let us embrace the wisdom and knowledge God has given us and create a world of equity and justice for all, not just the few, the privileged, and the affluent.