I have a young son who enjoys visiting national parks. When he arrives at a park, he rushes to the ranger station and asks for a booklet. Each park has a unique set of adventures, puzzles and quizzes that a child must complete before she or he is sworn in as a junior ranger. With this year being the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, my son is eager to visit all the parks he can.
On a recent trip, we were able to stop by three local parks. We saw the hunting grounds and dwelling space of pre-historic people at Russell Cave National Monument; we solemnly walked through the National Cemetery at Shiloh National Military Park; and we gazed admiringly at the beauty of the falls and wading pools of Little River Canyon National Preserve.
As we left the final park, I heard his young voice from the backseat proudly announce that we'd had three different adventures. He proclaimed that we'd seen a place of war, a place of history and a place where we could go swimming. Isn't it great, he said, that we have all of those different places nearby?
I thought about just how right his statement was. Not only do we have many natural wonders near Chattanooga, we live in a place rich with history and national importance. To really appreciate what we have around us, we must experience our surroundings. To walk the fields of Shiloh or to gaze into the canyon at Little River brought both history and nature alive. Reading about these places might provide us information, but seeing them, walking them and being present in them can give us an understanding that can come no other way.
The same can be said for the Bible. It is a book unlike any other. Its phrases, stories and lessons transcend the church and are heard in secular conversation every day. One might hear someone call another a Good Samaritan or a Judas without any religious implication intended. We hear folks talk about turning the other cheek or loving another like they love themselves. The lessons of the Good Book have been taught, shared and passed on to the point where we feel as if we know them. But could there be more?
Just like my experience with the local national parks, knowing of them and experiencing them turned out to be two different things. We might know of the Good Samaritan and his unexpected kindness, but until we offer love, compassion and mercy to one unlike ourselves, then is it any more than just a story? Unless we are truly willing to turn the other cheek and make ourselves vulnerable to hurt, how can we truly know the depths of love and hope for redemption that Jesus had for us?
As we have seen over the last few weeks, there is truly a need for us to not just be People of the Word, but to be models of that word. As we continue to grieve the loss of life from malice and violence in America and beyond, there must be people who openly stand for and exhibit grace, mercy, love and redemption. We must make what we quote and recite more than mere words; they should define and guide our actions and our hearts.
May these traits become commonplace national treasures: treasures worthy of preserving and passing down to our children and their children.
Thomas Quisenberry is the pastor at First Baptist Church in Chattanooga.