Ode to Revolution

The Bastille today

After two and a half weeks away in marvelous Norway and wonderful Paris, I could bore you with a photo parade, but I would never subject you to such punishment.  Instead, I share an insight gained.    

While in Paris, I was excited to go see the Bastille, the location of the defining moment of the French Revolution.  When taken there, I asked my good friend, an expert on Paris - Where is it?  To which I was assured that I was looking at it.  What I saw was a monument surrounded by traffic.. This is it?    

Is this where the revolution led?  It makes me reflect on how to feel about revolution, as a concept for embracing and engendering life.  It exists. It is.  It ever challenges us.  It ever gives us life.  I believe this for revolution is a tool for living the gospel, which is about the transformation of life.  

The gospel assures us that the human quest for more to life, the fullness of life for all, the vision of God for history are always possible where we are, but none of this just happens.  Here lies the challenge to revolution - the revolution of the gospel.  

In the midst of much suffering, we may say that people are resilient and so esxcuse ourselves.  But then I remmeber hearing a poor woman remonstrating - "Stop telling me I am resilient.  I just want to live life like everyone else."

Even if it fails, revolution is ever the call of the gospel, for that allows the gospel to be lived, for it offers the transformation of our whole self, humanity and our world.  My time away in places of beauty and wonder, rich in culture and history, tell me that, no matter what, life is good, a banquet offered for all to savour and enjoy.  In the midst of a harsh and routine reality, this vision is easily lost.  Is it not a revolutionary goal and challenge to ever behold and pursue?