Turbulence - To be Expected When You Fly

Author: Mark Fenstermacher
September 17, 2021

Over the last month I’ve taken a trip West to visit two cousins in Oregon, and then more recently a quick trip to Alexandria, Virginia to visit my son and 4-year old grandson. To save some money, I flew to Portland by way of Las Vegas, and came back to Indianapolis by way of Phoenix. On the trip to Washington D.C. I flew out with a change of planes in Atlanta and, coming back from Washington, I flew to Indy by way of Orlando, Florida.

Now, I’m home for awhile (and glad not to be on the road so much).

Why am I telling you about these trips? Because although some friends have laughed at me for my crazy flight arrangements, made in order to save a dollar, there are two really important life/soul lessons in this travelogue. 

First, life (and spiritual growth) rarely goes in a straight line. There are detours along the way. Sometimes we go south to go north. We talked about how the Hebrew experience in the exodus teaches us this. Simon Peter argues with Jesus about going to Jerusalem and denies knowing him, before he says “yes” to feeding Jesus’ sheep and tending them after the resurrection.

This is true with congregations. Many of us dream of a more vibrant, growing congregation impacting the world and reaching a new generation: movement towards that reality will often include detours and delays. The key is to keep moving forward (and not keep circling back to how things used to be).

Second, if you are going to fly—or live out the Jesus way of love for all—it is going to involve turbulence. Both as we landed in Orlando and then approached Indianapolis, we were warned to buckle up because there were bumps ahead.

One of the great challenges in our personal lives, and in the life of a congregation, is that when we get serious about making positive, faithful change what often happens is turbulence. Change is hard and sometimes we will push back. We want a better future but we want to get there by doing what we have always done: this won’t work.

A different future depends on change in the present. We can’t get to “there” without trying something different. Respectable people were outraged by the way Jesus reached out to, taught, healed and partied with rascals as well as proper synagogue-attending citizens. He pointed out that people grumped at John the Baptist for being too severe, too serious, and now they were poking at him (Jesus) because he not only loved God but he loved to laugh and party with all kinds.

Whether in our personal lives or in the life of an organization that needs to get healthy and more alive, we view turbulence and disagreement with alarm. The truth is that turbulence is a part of flying, and it is a part of faithing.  Sometimes people will push back against change even if it will lead to the better future they have long dreamt of having. (Friends in recovery have told stories of spouses and friends being furious with them for deciding not to use or drink anymore: getting well upset the world of those closest to them.)

Change needs to be wisely, lovingly and faithfully led. And yet turbulence is almost always a part of flying and it is a part of moving towards God’s preferred future for you...and our church. 

The bumps in the present are a sign that we are getting closer to home...where we are fully alive in Christ. Moving towards health often means buckling and putting your tray in the upright, locked position!

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It’s a joy to walk the Jesus way with you. Join us on Sunday for worship either in-person or on-line at 8:45 a.m. (Sanctuary) or 10:45 a.m. (Chapter Two in the Fellowship Hall). Looking for a place to connect? Try one of our adult groups:

• Front Porch is designed for people who want to drop in, with each Sunday being a new topic, 
• Cover to Cover is a gathering where we read through books that feed our soul and help us live faith,
• Breakfast Club is for the parents of young children.

New options. New groups. For you and the people you know in Northeast Indiana who are looking for community and connection.

Thank you for masking when in the building, practicing social distancing, and using hand sanitizer because of the Delta variant. Please, if you do not have an underlying condition that would disqualify you from receiving the vaccine, get the shot this week!

Grace and peace,
Pastor Mark

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