Making the world more beautiful

One of my favourite children’s books is called Miss Rumphius, written by Barbara Cooney. It tells the story of Alice, a resilient world traveller who vows, by the closing chapters of her life, to do something to make the world more beautiful. As an eccentric old woman, Miss Rumphius scatters lupine seeds on the wind, dressing the hills of her coastal town with violet, pink, and indigo-coloured flowers – a breathtaking sight!

I’ve always desired to be like Miss Rumphius: to do something to make the world more beautiful.

Easter reminds me that I can accomplish this task. Resurrection Sunday declares that I have a beautiful message to share with those around me!

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)

But proclaiming this message to a pluralistic world is an increasingly daunting and complex task. The good news doesn’t always seem very beautiful. Sometimes doubt threatens to tarnish our message.

This spring, popular media will be saturated with the latest Hollywood craze, The Da Vinci Code. Fascinated scholars will debate the divinity of Christ and argue over the mystery (or is it conspiracy?) of Christian faith.

Amidst the controversy, Christ followers will celebrate their holiest feast day of the year, Easter. They will greet each other with the ancient and bold proclamation, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Will our voices be filled with assurance this year? Or will there be a trace of doubt in our Easter greetings? Has the beautiful message turned into whispered words of shame and uncertainty, as we try to convince people in a world of relativism that we speak truth?

Admittedly, I’ve had questions about my faith. The events of the first Easter are not easy to comprehend. (An empty tomb? A risen Saviour?)

But I know many great people of faith have also faced grave doubt. In dark times, these saints were haunted by secret moments of disbelief. I’m comforted by the research of faith development expert John Westerhoff, indicating that mature faith can only emerge from periods of doubt, critical judgment, and struggle.

That’s why faith is often called a mystery. It makes our tiny, uncertain steps of faith even more beautiful. Our quiet words of proclamation encourage hopeless hearts. Our tentative efforts to live out Sermon-on-the-Mount ethics send shivers of transformation through our communities. Our small acts of love done in the name of Jesus make the world a better place.

Doubt need not silence our message. Faith simply calls for an attitude of love and faithfulness, centred in Jesus, making the world a lovelier place.

How will we, Canadian MBs, make the world more beautiful this Easter season?