Take Route 13 during the bridgework, for instance. Now, I have been in construction zones where two or more lanes are mashed down to one, usually with lots of warning and hundreds of cones and dozens of signs and a few flashing arrows. Inevitably (in “normal” places) some number of cars race down the narrowing lane to get as far ahead as they can, then duck into the long line just as the cones choke the lane down. And most of us just mutter something uncharitable under our breath as the driver in the expensive sports car or hulking four-wheel drive cuts in.
But not in Ithaca!
More than once on my way home from the mall I’ve seen an odd parable of Ithaca’s community mores. Just down the Cayuga Heights hill, just as you can see the traffic start to slow up about Stewart Park and can see the marching orange markers narrow the road, most drivers start to fade left and get in line. I’ve been struck by how soon folks merge into the single line, often before the Route 34 exit, letting the vehicles entering from there fold themselves into the line. What has amazed me is how well-mannered Ithaca drivers are, demonstrating great consideration for others so everyone is minimally inconvenienced by the lane closure. It’s an interesting reflection of how community-minded the population is; it takes a village to have a construction zone. The thing that really amazed me was one day when a couple of cars scooted down the closed lane to get ahead only to encounter a running pick by three vehicles who quickly straddled the line so they couldn’t squeeze in! They stacked up in blocking formation right up to the last yards so the impatient drivers couldn’t unduly benefit. It was an aggressive lesson to reinforce the communal values of fair play and sharing and being considerate of others.
Only in Ithaca, as they say.
Only in Ithaca could there be a spontaneous effort to enforce good community behavior in such a harsh manner! It was a little example of reinforcing politeness by being physically impolite.
Except it is not really only in Ithaca. Social pressure to conform to community values can be every bit as stringent in a church context. Getting out of line is met with a sliding scale of disapproval, from the arched eyebrow or cleared throat to the withering glare to being summoned to a meeting and being reminded, “that’s not how we do it around here.” It can happen across the theological spectrum, although we probably enjoy pointing it out when conservative sorts do it more than when progressive congregations hip-check someone. Still, the subtle exercise by a community or community of faith to promote its values is an important function. Mostly we can do it by getting into the correct lane well in advance and thus model good behavior, but sometimes we are more overt.
Our end of the UCC spectrum values inclusiveness, diversity, openness, sharing, generosity, service to the world, and other traits we believe build a resilient and kind community. But just as mostly mild-mannered drivers in hybrids can aggressively block the road “for the good of everyone,” sometimes we have to draw firm lines and mark what is out-of-bounds. Several UCC congregations have been in the news for stances against hate speech and discrimination and injustice. FCCI might well edge certain behavior or speech we deem incompatible with God’s witness in Christ Jesus over to the off-ramp; we have not often been tested, mercifully, but such reinforcing the deeply-held values of our community sometimes requires boundaries. The good news is that even then, the Gospel of a loving God guides the way we teach our communal values and always welcomes others into the community to live and worship and work with us.
And as a “completely different” and totally unrelated final paragraph that is too funny for me to resist: Religion News Service reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman has a great line in a recent article on the changing religious landscape and how most people actually have a pretty favorable view of religion in general and Christianity in particular. Her summary: “Many view church like they view an ice cream parlor: ‘When I’m in the mood, I can go.’” So maybe I will suggest that once in a while when you feel like going out for ice cream, you match that with inviting someone you know to join you at church the next Sunday. (Just sayin’)
In Christ,
David
