The Weekly Word 5-5-26

Services

11:00 Every Sunday

by: Reverend Michael Whitcomb-Tavey

05/05/2026

0

In “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” episode “Second Chances” (season 6, ep. 24), Commander William T. Riker meets his past self. This occurred because, 8 years prior to the current moment, there was a transporter malfunction that generated an extra copy of himself. This “copy” (who goes by Thomas Riker) was left stranded on a planet unbeknownst to everyone else, while the “real” William T. Riker continued his career. Eight years later, the crew of the Enterprise returned to the planet, discovered Thomas, and rescued him. This creates tension aboard the Enterprise as William and Thomas have to learn how to navigate their relationship with each other.
 
 In some ways, this episode explores the philosophical question of how does a person navigate a relationship with their actual self. How, then, would you have responded? How would you respond if you actually met your literal self? What kind of relationship would you forge?
 
In reality, we do not need a transporter incident to make this happen. Granted, you will never meet a “copy” of yourself. Nevertheless, the Bible does teach that God created us with a profound sense of self-identity. It is in this “identity of self” that you can engage in a relationship with yourself.
 
This upcoming Sunday, we explore this relationship. It is the final relationship for which God created you: relationship with yourself.
 
You can prepare for the service by reading Gen. 3: 1-10; Rom. 8: 1-17.
 
Worship starts at 11am, but if you are unable to attend the service, you can watch it online here:
Blog comments will be sent to the moderator
In “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” episode “Second Chances” (season 6, ep. 24), Commander William T. Riker meets his past self. This occurred because, 8 years prior to the current moment, there was a transporter malfunction that generated an extra copy of himself. This “copy” (who goes by Thomas Riker) was left stranded on a planet unbeknownst to everyone else, while the “real” William T. Riker continued his career. Eight years later, the crew of the Enterprise returned to the planet, discovered Thomas, and rescued him. This creates tension aboard the Enterprise as William and Thomas have to learn how to navigate their relationship with each other.
 
 In some ways, this episode explores the philosophical question of how does a person navigate a relationship with their actual self. How, then, would you have responded? How would you respond if you actually met your literal self? What kind of relationship would you forge?
 
In reality, we do not need a transporter incident to make this happen. Granted, you will never meet a “copy” of yourself. Nevertheless, the Bible does teach that God created us with a profound sense of self-identity. It is in this “identity of self” that you can engage in a relationship with yourself.
 
This upcoming Sunday, we explore this relationship. It is the final relationship for which God created you: relationship with yourself.
 
You can prepare for the service by reading Gen. 3: 1-10; Rom. 8: 1-17.
 
Worship starts at 11am, but if you are unable to attend the service, you can watch it online here:
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