St. Louis Historical Fiction

Ok, this one relies more on my memory than yesterdays. It seems to me there was a great outbreak during the time of CFW Walther. The pastors stayed and fought to survive with their people. But what about writing St. Louis historical fiction about another pastor at that time?

What was it like to be a fellow pastor in the LCMS in the time of Walther? What was it like for one guy to write a contemporary book and have it become standard to the church body?

What was it like to see Walther succumb to his busy over-scheduling?

There could be all sorts of good historical tidbits: looking into how the synod considered the Civil War, for example! How to view other pastors, and, of course, how charity and fear of body harm exist in the church and clergy.

Between deaconess hospitals and the lower expectations and availability of hospitals and doctors of that time . . . explore what pastors really might have faced, visiting the sick, the orphaned, the shut-in. How can pastors pastor with quarantines?!

As often as people refer to Missouri as though it’s the historic heart of Lutheranism, St. Louis Historical Fiction needs to happen. It could be a series! It surely doesn’t need to take over the Lutheran life of fiction, still a few good books might satisfy some of us very well.

Plus, think of the modern applications. I mean, do pastors think it’s obnoxious when other pastors find time to be theological? How many pastors make time to read and continue in theological study? Because Walther was a big, big proponent of exactly that. He hoped pastors would even have time to have free conferences, exchanging essays and scholarly papers as well as some consolation among the brethren.

How many modern American pastors would stay with their people in the face of a plague or epidemic? How many pastors can find strength in the camaraderie of their fellow clergy?

Sometimes books lend courage to the heart. Maybe this book could do exactly that for the men who serve despite in seeming isolation. Maybe this book could help tie together the past and the present in the way that Luther and Walther would have both approved of. 🙂

Just a thought. Any related thoughts you’d like to share?

Oh, one other thing. I would not recommend writing some seedy something about the “Purple Palace.” Remember, we are to build up one another, sharing burdens rather than smear them.