Genesis 12:1-5; Revelation 21: 4,5

Today we have been bringing together the story of Abraham who left his land to go to a land he did not know, leading a people not yet born with an examination of a brief period in North American history. That brief period, from about 1608 to about 1650 was a period of colonial conquest when European powers were trying to establish new versions of their homelands in the North Eastern  region. There were New France, New Amsterdam, New England.   There are similarities between Abraham’s search for a new land and the conquerors’ quest for a new home. But there are also differences. Today we are particularly interested in leadership vision.  So how the leadership vision of Samuel de Champlain, Henry Hudson and Peter Stuyvesant and William Bradford compare to the vision of Abraham? De Champlain was a Protestant serving a Catholic King.  The Dutch settlers, as part of a company and not religiously motivated, were more interested in finding the northwest passage but settled for the beaver skin trade. William Bradford and his fellow Pilgrims were on their way to New Amsterdam (partially because of their connection with the Dutch), but drifted off course and wound up landing on Cape Cod.  We have an idea of what was going in their heads. De Champlain and the Dutch were adventurers who wanted to expand the power of their company and their nation. The Northern European countries were in a race for influence and new natural products they could exploit.  Bradford was more concerned about religious freedom and finding a place where they could be separate and free. But soon the British who he had been trying to get away from would come and they would have to deal with them all over again. The Dutch, the French and the Pilgrims were all adaptable and skilled in dealing with the local population, although with the former too this lead to cruelty I am sure. De Champlain worked with the Indians north of the Saint Lawrence to fight the Iraquois. The Dutch bought Manhattan from the local Indians for very little. The Pilgrims found a way to work with the local Indian tribes. In the book “Strength based leadership” Tom Rath and Barry Conchie determine four strength areas or leaders: executive, influencing, relationship building and strategic thinking. All of them, including Abraham, succeeded because of their adaptability in relationship building.  De Champlain and the Dutch were also strategic thinkers. They represented powerful people who funded their campaigns. The Pilgrims were instead trying to get away from those powers. In the executive area they all showed belief, but for the Pilgrims and for Abraham the belief was more spiritual. In the influencing area, the Dutch and the French excelled in competitiveness, while the Pilgrims and Abraham were self-assured because of their spiritual vision. But all the colonists had one thing in common: they were looking out for the interests of their group and the interests of the groups they came in contact with mattered very little. One might say about Abraham that he only looked out for his people. It is true, he did become the Patriarch, but remember he did not see his nation become big. No, Abraham was completely pure in his leadership vision. For him it was all about belief, all about obedience to God’s voice.  His journey and the establishment of new land did not necessarily make sense to him, but his belief sustained him. This made him special, even when compared to the Pilgrims.

Friends, there is one leadership area were the colonists and Abraham were not able to excel. Rath and Conchie mention this under the leadership strength of relationship building and this is the ability to be an “includer.” All of the colonizers we have met were exclusive in their leadership visions. It was all about their group.  The Old Testament too is about that one group, the Hebrews. It is not until we get to the New Testament, in Acts, that our faith becomes inclusive, that all are welcome and considered important.  In Revelation the vision of a new world is one where there is no suffering, period. No one is singled out.  I think only now as a society and as a world are we beginning to get there. We are beginning to see that we cannot build walls around little safe communities, but that the doors should be wide open to the church and to our hearts.

But friends, let us go a little deeper than this and see what we can learn from this for our lives. We know by now that inclusiveness is a Parkview value. But I want I want you to think for a moment about your faith and think of it as a new land you are settling. Think of it as something you are claiming for yourself, not exclusively, but privately.  In the next week I want you to think about how the discovery of that faith makes your life different.  The text in Revelation points us to a new world. It presents a hopeful vision for the future where suffering is no more.  As someone who has faith in that vision, I am asking you, how does that faith make you new?  Abraham and the explorers were looking for a new version of their land, faith has given you a window to a new you. Explore it and plant your flag. Thanks be to God. Amen.