I'm in awe

Today I attended a meeting of the North American Assocation of Ecumenists convention. I was privelaged enough to hear George Lindbeck speak. Lindbeck was one of three Lutherans in attendance at the Vatican II. He has also been a part of each General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, and his work was influential in the recent joint statement on justification by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church. It was like meeting a star athlete, but in a much more nerdy way.

He offered many insights and anecdotes, but he also reminded us of something of which I had lost sight, Lutheranism began as a reform movement within the Catholic church. I guess I just needed to be reminded that we, as believers, stand as a part of a great cloud of witnesses. I don't know that I have any brilliant insights to offer today, just remember that as believers we stand as a part of a great tradion which crosses the globe and reaches back thousands of years in time. There is a certain peace to that.