Richard Ethun

Acts 16:1-3
Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. 2He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. 3Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek..

Reflection:
I was 18 when I made my first static line jump, and I was 50 when I made my first free fall skydive. In the first case it was sheer young, male, testosterone-addled idiocy, but in the second it was a reasoned and conscious decision. There is a process to jumping out of an airplane, and it is in preparation and planning for the jump but mostly in what to do if it doesn’t work. You go over and over the steps mentally, verbally, and physically to be able to keep your head and act in a worst case scenario. The process will certainly focus your attention. But there is a moment of commitment that every sky diver faces – when you step out into the air.  From the point when your jump instructor (who remains safely in the plane) gives you the go signal and you push away from the relative security of standing on a locked wheel, holding on to a wing strut, you are committed.

Since I’m writing this, you know the rest of the story. But seldom in life are we faced with such a stark commitment that has such immediate, clear cut results. As I reflect on my life I realize that throughout it is a series of commitments that I have made both large and small. Few involve life or death but are certainly about living—how I choose to live. Our scripture today reminds me of just that. How do we choose to live? In Paul’s case, he chose to take the redemptive love of Jesus Christ to everyone he met, whether they chose to listen or not. Timothy chose to identify with his Jewish heritage in a way that left little doubt of his commitment. Reading these stories and others of men and women who have given the best of their lives in bringing God’s kingdom to be, I am constantly amazed and in awe.

As I look around our society today with the onrush of information cascading from every device and platform that can carry a picture, story or event I understand why FOMO (the fear of missing out) is a real thing with so many people in our western culture. Commitment? I need to keep my options open. I suppose my age and station in life reflect the look of someone who has had all the fun he can have. And so my BTDT (been-there-done-that) outlook helps calm the frenetic confusion. But I know my choices, my commitments are bolstered by the same spirit shared by Paul, Timothy and all our church fathers and mothers. I choose to live in Christ.

It makes it easier to step out into the air when you know who packed your chute.

Prayer:
God of Grace and Glory, I call on you so often to calm my fears, remove my doubts and give me hope. Thank you for remembering me.  And holding me up when I falter.  My rock and redeemer.  In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.