Season 3, Episode 2.
OK, so maybe it could be jumping the shark.
Edith’s nuptials, Mrs. Hughes’ health scare, Mr. Bates’ fate still hanging in the balance.
But I still love “Downton Abbey.”
I love the dialogue, especially from the first two seasons.  I love the cast of characters and how in any scene you’re not sure how the conversation might end and it’s delicious to listen in.  I love the sense of decency that pervades many of the main characters’ actions and how they generally correct one another’s excesses.

It’s interesting to me how this costume drama on sleepy old PBS has gained broad appeal.  Maybe the show taps a collective desire to belong to a big, orderly house where each person serves a purpose.  Where wealth and power has its downsides and where the servant’s life has honor, camaraderie, intrigue and love.

Many times we modern ones are spiritually or psychologically homeless.  It’s good for us to see a generally healthy and functional communal life.  Maybe Downton orients us to the invisible reality, we are created to live in the house of the Lord our whole lives long.  (Psalm 23:6)

Recently I was driving around town and I saw some neat old houses.  Wow, I’d like to live there, I thought.  And then I thought (get ready, theological leap) I’d like to live with God and be happy whatever my physical surroundings.

Psalm 127:1 says that unless God builds the house those who build it do so in vain.    I’ve been thinking a lot about letting God build the house (i.e. not having an overly human focus in accomplishing plans).  And then it also hit me:  Yes, let God build the house.  But then we need to move in!  We belong.  We are called to inhabit.  We live out our lives with sacred powers given to us.  We find our joy in discovering the particularity of our call and role and being obedient to its creative contours.  We are not homeless.  We have a room with a view.

That wall of summoning bells in Downton’s servants’ room?  One of them is calling you.  You belong to a great house.
Here’s to being a doorkeeper – or any other role- in the house of the Lord.  (Psalm 84:10)

Pastor Sarah Dickinson