SIGNS AND WONDERS

330 miles later and we arrived in Mentor, Ohio. A long journey, a little scary driving through Cleveland at rush hour, but apart from that, the Sat Nav (and Kerry) kept me straight. With temperatures above 90 degrees F we are very grateful for the air con although I’m sure it eats the fuel up (is that right or is that just a myth?) However, with ‘gas’ prices at $2.80 per gallon (that’s roughly £1.80 a gallon or 40 pence a litre), who cares! I know I should, but I’m on Sabbatical!

There was an interesting sign as we travelled through Ohio to get here. At one point on the journey I read, ‘Don’t stop to pick up hitchhikers.’ This wasn’t because it was a Freeway and they didn’t want you to stop at all, the sentence underneath explained, ‘Don’t stop to pick up hitchhikers. Prison Area.’ Great advice but a poor comment on the security at the local prison! I made sure we locked the doors and carried on without stopping.

Talking of signs, I came across this one in Grand Haven, Michigan yesterday: ‘BE LESS CERTAIN, BE MORE CURIOUS.’

I’ve been thinking about Mars Hill and what I wrote yesterday, that this slogan could be their slogan. In fact I was listening to a recent podcast from Mars Hill and this is what Rob Bell and Shane Hipps were saying. There are things we have been told, accepted, believed without actually thinking about it ourselves and then when difficulties or challenges come, there is no foundation or safety net to hold us up when tough things happen because there is no depth, nothing to cling hold of because it is someone else’s faith we have put on. So being less certain leaves room to explore and debate and being more curious enables us to learn and discover for ourselves. I think that what we learn for ourselves, in the context of community, in discussion, debate, conversation, will enable us to keep standing even when we are under pressure. Less certain, more curious. I like that.

Talking of curious. I went to the ‘fitness centre’ when we got to this hotel. Fitness Centre is a grand title for a small room with one running machine, one bike and one cross-trainer, but I did have a run (even on holiday – what’s wrong with me?) I never usually run in front of a mirror but the room was so small I couldn’t avoid it and as I ran I became curious about how I run. And I noticed something amazing! I don’t know if this should happen, but there is a moment in every stride when both feet are off the ground, when I am actually hanging in mid-air. It is only a moment but it is a moment when there is nothing holding me up as I wait for one foot to land. And it’s okay. I can wait. Uncertainty in that moment is followed by a safe landing and on I go. A moment of uncertainty followed by a safe landing and another firm step on the journey.

Why don’t you try it yourself? But please check with the doctor before you start.