Like many young people of my era, the idea of flight has always intrigued
me. The story of the Wright Brothers and the “Kitty Hawk” fed my thirst for
adventure and allowed me to dream dreams that seemed unobtainable, and yet
possible.
When I turned 10, my grandfather gifted me with a horse. Our family was
living in Brazil at the time, and that gift opened up so many doors for me. My
father was a busy pastor serving multiple congregations in a pretty rural town in
the southernmost state in South America. My mother was trying to keep her
family dressed, fed and happy. Which worked out well for me, since I was given a
lot of freedom.
I used to walk to the farm where my horse was kept. The farm
belonged to the Yost family who were a German speaking family who attended
the Lutheran church my father was serving. They were simple people but with a
hard-working disposition. They were also kind and caring, and generous to a
fault. My horse had all the apples and pears that a horse could eat since they
grew all sorts of fruit in their abundant orchard.
The Yost farm was on the edge of town, and just beyond the fence lay an
open field that served as the municipal airport. Sounds pretty impressive but the
planes that landed on the grass runway were just single engine planes with no
more than two or three passengers on board. But it at least it had the iconic wind
sock in its bright orange color to let the pilots know which way the wind was
blowing. The point is that I could go catch my horse and ride to the top of the field
and exit the gate at the top of the field and watch the small planes taking off and
come in for landings.
In my mind, as a young boy, they could be going anywhere
or coming back from anywhere and they were taking me with them. I think only a
small propeller plane has the power to capture our imaginations like that.
This Lenten season we are going to be exploring the ways that God’s
presence is made known to us. Like wind in one’s face or like a bird returning to
northern forests we sense God’s presence more than we realize. Sitting on my
horse, I could sense when it was frightened or when it’s muscles were tense in
anticipation of flight. What does God reveal about God’s self in the gospels?
Which of our senses are awakened when the Crucifixion story unfolds right there
before us?
What “right idea will fly” to give us an innovative new perspective about
the grace of God that will transform us in some deep way and leave us incapable
of being silent? This may be the moment when your life will be open to the spirit,
when the God you hear, see, touch, taste and smell will find you ready and willing
to Pass it on.
Hey, lets us go flying together. OK? Come and be a part of our Lenten
journey. Enclosed is the schedule for this coming season of flying and innovation
here at the “Bridge of Faith” Parish. Dream some dreams with me, and feel the
wind of the spirits breath as we journey together to the cross but then to the
wonder of the empty tomb.
Flying and Set Free,
Pastor Jeffrey Holter