Eyes to the Future

In this week after opening The Commons, a building filled with both new possibility and the faithful gifts of past generations, I would like to share this devotion by Danielle DeNise, Christ Church Director of Annual Giving. Moments like this invite us to remember that we are always part of a much larger story, shaped by God’s faithfulness across generations. I hope that Danielle’s words will be a blessing and an invitation to each of us as we continue to join together in God’s unfolding work. 

As part of my doctoral work, I attended a conference last week that was part of the Fresh Expressions movement which aims to cultivate new forms of Christian community in relationship with the local church. 

We gathered under the theme “All Together: Seven Generations and Beyond.” The spiritual centering was offered by Bishop David Wilson of the Methodist Church, a member of the Choctaw people. He shared that his tribe, and many Indian people, live with a philosophy of seven generations. Decisions are made with the wellbeing of seven generations in mind – honoring those who came before while shaping a just, joyful future for those yet to come. 

We were asked to consider how our spaces, our programs, our witness to the gospel take into account generations we will never meet. It seemed fitting on a weekend when we gathered as a community to dedicate a new building – one where we hope that many generations gather for connection and gather for generations well beyond us. 

Each speaker was invited to wrestle with this indigenous wisdom and consider it in their own context. My doctoral mentor, Daniel Park, shared his own story of seven generations, as his great-great-grandmother became a Bible woman who was trained as a lay evangelist by Methodist missionaries. Now, six generations later, every generation has a pastor that is committed to share the Good News of the gospel. 

This commitment to the next generation prompted Daniel to give an unusual item to his confirmation students: an ostrich egg.  

Ostrich eggs are enormous – about the size of 24 chicken eggs – and the bird that lays them is not known for its memory. An ostrich cannot reliably remember where it has buried its egg, but it has eyes that can see nearly 360 degrees, allowing it to keep watch even while it searches for food. In some Coptic churches, ostrich eggs hang in the sanctuary as a reminder that God’s eyes are always watching over us.  

When Daniel gives an egg to his confirmands, he tells them, “This is a moment when God is sending you out – go with gusto. And keep your eye on the next generation, because you are now the generation called to share and witness to the next.” 

We have this same call and an invitation to this same work.  

May we be people who live beyond the immediate moment and make decisions that honor God and the generations still to come.