June 25thAnabaptist Redwoods and Fairy Rings
- by Andy Brubacher Kaethler
Walking among the giant Redwoods of California it struck me that some of these trees were already 1000 years old during the Reformation when the early Anabaptists met secretly in Swiss forests. If protected, most of these Redwoods have the potential to be around in 500 years from now. Will the Anabaptist movement be as enduring as the Redwoods?
One sign of hope for Redwoods is the phenomenon of a mother tree surrounded by a near-perfect circle of offspring, called a fairy ring. This family of trees is interconnected by their roots, sharing nutrients and providing mutual anchoring against strong winds at the forest top, 80 metres above.
The mothers of Anabaptism are the women and men who showed strength and courage to follow Jesus, with the guidance of the Bible and the Holy Spirit. We are among the fairy rings, offspring who not only draw wisdom and courage from or spiritual ancestors but also actively support and mutually sustain a vision for the Kingdom of God where reconciliation, peace, and equity are greater motivators than mistrust, violence, and self-interest.
Will there be a Mennonite church or Anabaptist movements 500 years from now, or even 50 years from now? The pressures are great. But great also is the long arch of God’s Kingdom bent toward justice and love for all. Redwood mother trees and fairy rings attest to God’s enduring vision for the world. I continue to be drawn to this vision.
-Andy Brubacher Kaethler is a pastor at Ottawa Mennonite Church.