Oh no, not another trip to the USA
If you are one of those who are vehemently angry with Americans and/or their country, read no further. I don’t want you to have a heart attack or sudden moment of emotional collapse…

Okay, still with me? I have just completed my annual American Grandsons Tour with visits to Maine, New Hampshire and Arizona. Once again I had the opportunity to gain some insights into the land that POTUS wants to re-create in his own image. Not sure that he is succeeding but he would be more vigorously stalled if the media would take one week and not cover one of his moments – just look at the world through other lenses and ignore every outburst whether mentally tangled or emotionally fractured.

I say this because for most of my trip I was treated with respect, friendliness and even a sense of thankfulness that I had taken the time to come to the USA (Canadians have reduced their travel south of our border by as much as 25%, so it is becoming quite noticeable to them). Most people, when they discovered that I am Canadian were quite effusive in telling me that they do not agree with POTUS, that they think Canada (and by extension, Canadians) is/are wonderful and that they do want to continue to be friends, colleagues and even co-workers. And this response was not just at hotels, where perhaps there is a financial incentive to be nice, but on college campuses, in gyms, and churches (although more on this latter world later). There continues to be a normalcy in the one’s life while travelling that belies the tensions of the political world and it gives me hope.

Now my American Grandsons are all on very different individual journeys. Like any person just arriving into the world of adulthood, there are moments of concern, confusion, consternation; but generally speaking they are moving ahead, questioning, studying, learning. From my perspective they are doing fine and will be more than successful at life. They eventually will be part of the next revolution and perhaps like we of the sixties, they will remake the world, though I hope they will do a better job than we did. I think they will because they don’t drink as much as we did and drug use is not as frequent nor as mind-altering as some of the stuff others in my world dabbled or experimented with.

I attended two different churches during my trip – a Presbyterian church in New Hampshire and a Victory church in Arizona. Very different experiences and very different insights into the religious and spiritual journeys being encouraged. As I have come to expect more often than not, the Presbyterian church had a membership of twenty-two people: how it survives would be an intriguing study. But the members were incredibly friendly, at least half of them came and welcomed me. And the sermon was solid, the hymns were singable and there was a sense everyone was seriously searching for a strengthened relationship with God. I left happy that I had worshipped with them – they were good New England folk.

Trinity Church in Scottsdale is where my AZ Grandson attends. As we approached, probably half-a-dozen people welcomed us. Entering the sanctuary, as I always do, we found seats in the back rows. I noticed that the room was large and that there were misters kicking out either a fog or cooling spray. But before I could really examine the facility, the strobe lights came on, an energetic rock band became front & centre complete with half-a-dozen singers and three big screens lit up. After a welcome by one of the pastors, a series of very upbeat praise songs were sung. The words were on the screens, but there was no musical score and the singers were so vigorous that it seemed the best thing was to just stand and listen. In this twenty or thirty minute intro one of the Scripture Lessons was displayed and chorally read. Then after a pause in the music another Scripture was read and the main preacher came onto the screens. I couldn’t actually see the pulpit and later I realized that it was taped (there are maybe six services from Saturday evening through to Sunday afternoon so it makes sense but it does make it seem a bit remote). His theme was the Fifth Commandment and it was strongly MAGA in tone and substance; and, while there was reference to the two commandments that Christ himself gave, there was less evidence of loving one’s neighbour (unless that neighbour fit the constraints of the sermon). It was quite a performance, not always on script, but definitely intended to remind the folk what the proper road is that they should follow. Considering that the church was full (somewhere between 750 & 1,000 – it was hard to see as the place was quite dark but the parking lots were all crowded with very substantive vehicles) I would say that this group was more convinced of its own righteousness than of the need to welcome the poor, the down-trodden, the skeptic. But on the other hand, there was no offering taken (you could give by down-loading the QR code) and optional communion was provided in walk-by stands as you left. While I am glad that my Grandson has returned to church and is working on his spiritual journey, I am concerned that the depth he is seeking may not be discovered within the Victory setting. There will be energy; there will be spectacle; but affirmation is rather singular in a narrow theological sense. He and I will talk and he will be encouraged to continue his attendance but to also explore other perspectives within the Christian milieu.

As for me – I gained more insight into the MAGA movement. I lament that we Presbyterians have not done a better job of articulating and supporting a more reasoned, Biblical & faith based theological home for young people especially. Enthusiasm is good, spectacle may be less foundation building. Maybe where twenty-two are gathered provides for more intimate connection with faith than standing in the thousands… I will reflect on this more and return to this conversation again…

In reflection,
g.w.