It Started With a Picture

Last night I found myself transfixed by an image online. Earlier that evening I thought it would be fun to do some research on my family tree. It started by reading a few obituaries and connecting the dots to see how everyone was connected. As I was perusing through my father’s side of the family, I came across a picture of his father, Garl Vance Sterling. He was standing with his parents and siblings; a little younger than I am today. My grandfather died in 1959 when my father was still a child and I never had the opportunity to meet him. Of course I’ve seen other pictures of my grandfather, but last night I took a long moment to zoom in and look deep at his face and features and find a bit of myself in him. 

There is something profoundly meaningful in looking back to where you’ve come from. I think an interest in genealogy sparks in each of us during a certain point in our lives. The stories of generations that came before us have laid the path to where we are today. Their stories move us forward, continuing  the legacy for the next in line.  To quote Canadian philosopher and entrepreneur  Matshona Dhliwayo,  “If you know where you are from, it is harder for people to stop you from where you are going." In the book The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirit we Inherit, author Lori Erickson describes her own dissection of her lineage and what it means to make connections to the past: 

My research on my family tree has made me realize that rather than a mere list of names and dates, genealogy can be an invitation to imagine, to ponder, and to learn not just who our ancestors were but who we are and who we might become. I think it is a golden ticket that gives me permission to explore obscure corners of history, meet remarkable characters, and trace my spiritual DNA. The soul material that makes me who I am. 

Erickson goes on to express hope that others will consider how their ancestors influenced not only their physical appearance but also shaped and continue to shape our souls. 

Who we are and where we come from have a strong impact not only in our own lives but also in the communities we are part of.  Our family traditions are reflected in our homes and in how we build friendships and relationships with others. We’ve learned how to maneuver everyday life from our parents and their parents. Stories of their tenacity have helped us to work hard and fight the good fight. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” We also find guidance and learn life lessons from our church family. As a modern church community we are guided by the stories of past generations which influence our passions and our mission moving forward. Who we are today is a mishmash of everyone who took the time and energy to love and guide us.

Like many churches today we find ourselves searching for an identity and purpose. During our move last year we took a great deal of time to honor our history as a congregation.  We talked about our story as SPC and what was important to our identity.  We let go of a lot, but we also realized that we didn’t want to start from scratch. 

As we start this next chapter in our story, what can we learn from our ancestors? How can their faith, perseverance, and love help guide us as we encounter joys, challenges, and hardships in our time? 

Rev. Julie Sterling