Michelle Obama said, “… you will not always be able to solve all the world’s problems all at once. But don’t ever underestimate the impact you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”
History was never one of my favorite subjects, but I’ve come to believe that understanding our history is essential for building our future. It seems especially critical now as we hear endless news and media reports about tragedies around the world. As Michelle Obama said, history gives us hope when we face what seem like insurmountable challenges. For example, while there’s still a lot of work to do, in just the last century we’ve come a long way in our fight against problems like gender inequality, living standards in third world countries, and the damage caused by colonialism.
Facing what seem like insurmountable problems is an age-old trial. Almost 3000 years ago our ancestors in faith wrote “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” (Psalm 46:1-3)
Rev. Paul Wynacht
