On Tradition

"On a new path, through tradition, that will surely bring us home."

I love having new words set to beloved hymn tunes. There's the familiarity of the melody alongside a different way of looking at things. One of my favorites is called "Come, Sophia" and is set to the tune of "Come Thou Font." It's a song that's also a prayer, for Sophia, found in Proverbs 8 as the embodiment of wisdom. The hymn ends with the words above, reminding us that tradition isn't something that we're tied to or that holds us back, but that can be a guide as we move in new directions with unknown outcomes.

We have two thousand years of Christian tradition to draw from-- it's a wide and deep pool, stretching back to the time of Jesus and out to the edges of other denominations we don't know much about. Social media has made it easier than ever to get glimpses into the lives of people we would never otherwise meet. It's an opportunity to see the wisdom of other people, places, and cultures that are completely unfamiliar to us, and that is a gift that I continue to appreciate the more time I am on the social internet.

What traditions are deeply meaningful and beloved to you? What traditions and rituals have you seen from afar and wanted to know more about? How might the traditions we love help lead us into the future God is building?