A New Chapter...

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”

-Albert Einstein

This quote from one of the most brilliant minds in history should ring most true for those of us following Christ. This rings all the more true after we have been born again. I'm writing this entry today because many of us are reaching a new destination in our lives. This destination, however, is not one of an ending, but rather a beginning. A new chapter.

This ministry has become a great start to what I feel God has called me into and I've already begun to see it's fruit growing. It is one great part of my own new chapter. I recently have been able to move out of the home I grew up in and take my family to a home of their own. Another new chapter. But not all new chapters are written with success and glory as their theme. What may be a glorious chapter in one's book may be written in another's as tragedy. One person may be moving on to a higher paying job out of state, a great victory in their eyes, while their loved ones are left where they are in a bitter chapter of loss. I say all of this because almost everyone I know is scattering right now. And while it is God's will I know I will find myself rejoicing in their victory and crying over memories and loss. This IS God's will though. It is a theme seen countless times in the Holy Bible; epistles written to the church by the Apostles who went various ways to serve the body in ways that required they depart from friends, family, and all other loved ones. The Apostle Paul even writes of times of his tears while leaving those he was close to, primarily Timothy. Not all chapters are sweet. Some are bitter, some sweet, and some bittersweet. But I don't write this to be a discouragement, rather that it may encourage you to push forward and pursue your destiny. C.S. Lewis describes something he calls the Law of Undulation in his book titled "The Screwtape Letters."

"Humans are amphibians-half spirit and half animal (The Enemy’s determination to produce such a revolting hybrid was one of the things that determined Our Father to withdraw his support from Him.)…This means that while their spirit can be directed to an eternal object, their bodies, passions, and imaginations are in continual change, for to be in time means to change. Their nearest approach to constancy, therefore, is undulation-the repeated return to a level from which they repeatedly fall back, a series of troughs and peaks."

Now this quote is from one devil to another devil so understand that Lewis was writing from the perspective of a demon named Screwtape, thus the "enemy" refers to God and "our father" to Satan.

The importance of this quote is the necessity of change. We go through trials and emerge from them. They make us who we are.

In one of my previous posts, titled The Need for Sorrow, I discussed this topic. I reviewed that we need what Lewis calls trough periods to appreciate the peaks. To be honest, I've been called a heretic for believing this. I have my doubts that my accusers had ever read the book of Job, an obvious proof of God's usage of trials to mold His child.

As I continue, I write this for those of you starting a new chapter. I pray that whether it is bringing sorrow or joy, you remain comforted that YOU control where this chapter takes you and how the next begins. I myself am starting a new chapter as well. Even this blog, a big part of this ministry so far, will be seeing some changes. Starting with it's name... I have never been satisfied with "the runway" as a title for this blog. Though it's significance was that of an aircraft runway, where planes take off, I feel it can be confused too easily with a modeling runway so as of now I will be changing the name to "Faith Like Feathers" which is the shortened version of Gift of Flight Ministries tagline, "faith is the feather to your flight." I also have made changes to the layout and have some plans to make each post more enjoyable for those with vision impairment; this.. I will explain at a later date.

In all of this I pray that each of you reading will take heed to this message. You write your story, make it one worth reading. Fill it with love and joy. Endure.

I love you all. God bless!