Walking in the footsteps of Giants.

Thursday John and I boarded a train and headed for Wittenberg. For those of you who are church enthusiasts like myself, know this to be one of the main places of the reformation. It is the home of Martin Luther. This is where he lived and preached, and eventually nailed his 95 thesis to the door.

It is a town with rich history said by many to be the birthplace of the reformation, where the first protestant service was held. As John and I strolled the cobble stone streets, I couldn't help but be amazed at the thought that Luther had walked these same streets. Had looked at the same canals. Had heard the same church bells ringing.

John and I went by the City church, saw the door where Luther had nailed his thesis to the door. And we went to the church where he preached. Listened to the organ he would have heard. And as we sat in those church pews I couldn't help but be amazed by how much changed because a few people said, "I don't think this is how the church is supposed to be. I don't think this is what Jesus had intended." And 500 years later, we still know his name. We worship as we do, we each have our own bibles, we all sing hymns together, ministers can be married, all because of people like Luther. We are where we are because of the giants of our faith. People who would never consider themselves as such. But who asked the big questions. I've always though of Luther's thesis as statements, and in some ways they were, but they were also questions. The questions no one wanted to ask. No one had answers for.

Today we have our own questions. The questions we are only beginning to find the courage to ask. And it has me humbled. And has me wondering, who will emerge asking the big questions next? Who will we still be talking about 500 years from now? Do we have the courage to hear what they are saying? Are we ready to listen? I wrote about change a little while ago. It feels like it is coming. Are we ready? Will we listen to the voices speaking? Walking in the footsteps of giants. Where will they lead next?