The Storm is Coming

This is an old Catholic church in my hometown. It sits up on a hill, so from a vantage point just a bit higher than this, I was able to shoot from eye level. The camera captured what I was seeing, but not what I was feeling. I used some technical magic to convey my impressions.

I was Catholic for a few years, undergoing the catechism after my marriage. In one session, I challenged the priest with a Bible verse that didn't jive with what he was teaching. His answer? "When there is a discrepancy between the Bible and tradition, we go with tradition."  Hmm.

Although there are aspects of Catholicism that I still love, I moved on to a Bible teaching non-denom a few years later. I am so grateful for the knowledge and understanding that I've gained from such excellent teachers, including how to study and discern God's word for myself.

This photo spoke to me of several things, but one in particular. Traditions of faith, all denominations, are being challenged and we might say, rightly so. As our understanding of the word of God increases, our faith should be growing and our relationship with the Lord should be deepening. Some of mankind's traditional thinking needs to be retired. And that goes for all denominations!

With the current pope in ill health, the Catholic church is about to undergo another transition. No matter who is chosen, or what course a new pope sets for them, God says this:

"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

~Matthew 16:18