Where Is Your Airbag?

Have you crashed yet?

A member of the church was sharing with me about his car crash. He's okay now, but he didn't see the crash coming. He isn't even sure what caused it. One moment he was driving. The next moment he was stopped with the airbag deployed in front of him. In a word: scary.

Crashes can happen in churches too, especially when you are flying high and cruising along and enjoying the company of God and others. You don't expect to crash when things are going good. In so many ways Emmanuel is gaining momentum, flying high, cruising with God.

While it is an opportunity to really excel when so much momentum is going in a positive direction, it isn't a bad idea to wonder where our airbag is. Crashing can hurt so much more when you are going fast. And Emmanuel is going fast. Eventually we will slow down. So where is our airbag?

When we come down off the high boost of momentum, the letdown can be..well...like 'ugh'. The common, healthy, pace of ministry will require padding--a place to be safe when we get bumped, discourged or confused. There are a few different places to find padding in the church. Let me mention two: prayer and faith-forming groups.

Prayer is a place we find solace and peace with God. It is a reminder that our mortality is not alone and hopeless in a world that doesn't always mind if we crash. We must hang on to prayer in all cases. This should go unsaid. Sadly, it is tempting to lighten up on prayer when things are going good. Let's not do that. Let's pray.

Secondly, faith-forming groups are another airbag. Being able to lean on each other is what community is about. It's highly unlikely that everyone will crash all at the same time. Leaders can depend on one another to lift each other up when one has a crash. However, everyone in the church will be encouraged to be in such a group: youth group, bible study, sunday school, small groups and other groups that will emerge this Fall can function as an airbag. I hope you have one. And if you don't, I encourage you to get one. The blessings can't always be put into words.

So as we enjoy the awesome inspiration of God in this time of refreshing energy, in the back of our minds let's not forget where our airbags are located. It will allow us to carry on to the next day when the goodness of God can continue to be experienced.

Pastor Joe