TIMECAPSULES

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 260

It’s hard to see people hurting. I’m a billion percent sure you’d all agree with that sentiment. Like you, I wish it weren’t a part of the human condition. Someday when Christ returns and makes things all new, pain, suffering, tears, and death will be a thing of the past, perhaps like a time capsule if you will.

Early this morning, I received word a church friend hadn’t been discharged from the hospital. (He was admitted on Friday). Going to see today was mission No.1. But before I could do that, I had to hold down the fort for a few hours. Besides, I was expecting Max for our usual Monday morning chat.

Before heading out at noon, I kicked the tires as I often do with worship planning for the weekend ahead. I did that and a few other things, and sometime during all that, Max texted asking for a rain check. Now I had more time to kill… What to do?

I knew I had an hour drive to where my friend is hospitalized, so I took some time to do a bit of investigation to see what was in the neighborhood. And by investigation work, I mean searching for targets to photograph, especially historical churches.

There was one I had in mind, but didn’t know where it was, so I began a search. Come to find out, it wasn’t in Minnesota, but in South Dakota; and while it was (at one time) a real congregational edifice – aka church building – it’s now a tourist attracted in a place called the 1880 Town. (Google it. It looks kinda dope.)

Well, that got my thinker wondering if there are any historical churches nearby my route. Lo and behold, I found two. I marked them on my maps app and decided it’d detour on my way home.

So…. after lunch, I headed out. I drove to Worthington to see my friend. We visited for a couple hours, we prayed, and then I gave up my chair for another who’d come to visit. I dialed the wife and told her I’d be delayed in getting home. “No problem,” she said. “Stop at a store and get the soup we need to prepare supper, please.” That put me on a timetable.

From my google search I brought up the first location; it was 22 minutes away. All along my drive, I kept wondering what the landscape looked like in the way back days. In fact, that thought continued to play like a tape on repeat throughout the day.

Honestly, what I was seeing along the route wasn’t giving me hope. My destination was old Roman Catholic country church called “Church of Saint Kilian.” The photos on my Google search looked promising…. But. All along my route, the landscape was filled with nothing but windfarm after windfarm — windmills as far as the eye could see.

Okay, forgive me. I’m gonna step on my soapbox for a minute.

As much as I appreciate the human endeavor to find alternative, ecofriendly, energy sources, those things aren’t it. On paper, sure they’re environmentally conscious. However, they cost more to produce (and maintain) that than the energy they derive; their caustic (oils, chemicals, battery storage); and the materials used to created the blades can’t be recycled. Moreover, I’ve heard farmers and ranchers contend they’re disrupting wildlife, livestock, and avian migration patterns. BEYOND all that, I think they’re just one of the biggest eyesores ever. That’s my two cents.

Anyway, I arrived in Kilian, and while the building is cool and all, the shot I was looking for was no good. I began to wonder what that church looked like back in the day on the prairie when none of today’s tech uglified the landscape. Anyway… onto site #2.

I plugged in the new address and headed toward Old Westbrook Lutheran Church. An hour later, I arrived at the historic location. The church is tucked away off the road. I turned off the car and walked around. I opened PhotoPills to create a mock up… but again, just too many things were blocking the perfect shot. Some of those things were all natural: two giant trees, probably as old as the church itself. But then, when I moved around to see another alignment, there I saw it: modernity uglifying the beauty of once was. I dashed around to the south side of the church to check one more thing. Maybe, I thought to myself. Perhaps a star trails shot.

Like Saint Kilian, Old Westbrook Lutheran is a beautiful, historical edifice — both build over a century ago when life was slower than it is now.

Along my final leg to home, I again daydreamed about what the landscape looked like before we installed modern technology on the prairie to keep us comfortable in our ways of life. That all said, I thanked God for these historical churches, for families and communities have continuously worshipped within them since before Hector’s pup was ever born.

Tonight, I’m thankful for those who’ve preserved these historical places: like Saint Kilian’s and Old Westbrook Lutheran. Those churches are living time capsules, reminding us that while times change, we’re blessed when some things stand still.

What are you thankful for today?