BETWEEN THE LINES: FINDING THE FUTURE IN THE STORIES OF OUR PAST

"The only form of fiction in which real characters are not out of place is history." -- Oscar Wilde

History intrigues me. Whether it's U.S. history, local history or my own family lore doesn't really matter, I enjoy learning about the past.

I think history offers lessons relevant to our future. It also provides a sense of tradition and stability.

Besides that, it's full of interesting, entertaining stories that are true.

Maybe the real reason I'm so interested in history is because of its stability. I don't care much for big change, and history remains somewhat static.

Of course there are some bits of U.S. history that seem to be rewritten every few years. There are always new theories about JFK's death and the Watergate scandal. But for the most part, things don't change.

But some of my favorite college courses were history surveys because the professor didn't make us remember dates and places. We talked about history as it affected people's everyday life. It made sense to learn history for its relevancy, not just when it happened and where. I wanted to know why.

However, there's a fine line between living in the past and celebrating the accomplishments of the past.

One local Methodist congregation has learned how to celebrate its past while looking to its future.

The members at Zion United Methodist Church near Gordonville are celebrating a milestone -- 150 years of worship -- and told me some of their family tales this week.

The church was founded by German immigrants who settled outside Cape Girardeau. Little did they know that 150 years later the church building would still stand.

And it's a beautiful building, full of the memories of baptisms, weddings, funerals and community celebrations. The church has been an integral part of the lives of its members. And it still is, says pastor Conway Briscoe.

Visitors can even feel the history just by sitting in the pews or reading the names on tombstones in the cemetery. Even the stained-glass windows offer a link to the past -- they were donated in memory of former members.

But the most amazing thing I learned about the congregation is that several families can trace their roots to charter members.

One member can even name the relative who was a founding member. He's never moved his membership elsewhere and holds the current record for longest consecutive membership. All of his children are members, too.

Having that sort of connection with the past is astounding to me.

I don't think people have that kind of stability in their lives anymore. We live in a world of fast-paced activity and high-tech communication. People don't make time for history anymore.

I would like to trace my family tree but never really found the time to devote to it. Even I have been caught up in the world of television, computers and telephones.

When I did find any information about relatives, I got sidetracked by the stories or lost in the branches.

While in college, my brother and I again started a family history project but never really completed it. When cleaning recently, I stumbled across the information again.

Maybe now I've found the inspiration I need to uncover a little more of the historical mystery.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.