Tradition!

O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7 BCP 230)

"Tradition! Tradition!" One of my favorite musicals is Fiddler on the Roof. Set in the first decade of the 20th century in Russia, the musical follows Tevye and his family (5 daughters!) as they change with the times and eventually are evicted from their town for being Jewish. At the beginning of the story, Tevye and the village have been following the Jewish customs and traditions they have known for generations. As the story unfollows, gradually these traditions and customs are faced, some with understanding and some with... well, stubbornness. 

As we have been faced with changing times and customs, many of our older traditions have had to be looked at. We have had to adapt some of our traditions in the light of new circumstances and sometimes we have done so with understanding and sometimes with stubbornness. One of the benefits of tradition is that we know that it worked for those before us. Traditions allow us to connect with our ancestors and heed their wisdom. 

However, as Tevye learns on his journey with his wife and daughters, sometimes what worked for one generation doesn't work for another. Tradition should not become an idol, worshipped in its own right. As we continue searching for the next normal in our world, we will have to continue looking at our traditions and seeing if they still bring love, kindness, and meaning today.