Published: July 04, 2008 08:03 pm         

May all owls and pelicans find wings of faith

Inside Out

Transition seems to be the buzz word for so many people I know, including myself. A couple of friends are adjusting to retirement. Another has changed jobs. One is going through a divorce. Two families have been hit with sudden news about the critical illness of loved ones.

Several area churches, including mine, have said goodbye to former pastors and are welcoming new shepherds this weekend.

So many changes. So many new adjustments. So many shifting shadows.

All of this was on my mind when I turned to the Scriptures one day this week and found Psalm 102:6 in the King James Version. “I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.” Both birds are out of place. The pelican belongs to the water; the owl belongs in deep woods.

To me, the psalmist expresses what transition can feel like. We’re off kilter, out of place, not sure what we need to do next.

On Sunday, many pastors and their new congregations will reflect on the Apostle Paul’s words — “forgetting what is behind and moving forward to what is ahead, let us press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

That’s a good reminder for us facing any kind of transition. We have to accept that we will need to leave some relationships behind to make room for new ones that lie ahead. We may have to experience pain or loss in order to appreciate the comfort and healing that will follow. We have to realize some of those newfangled ideas a pastor, boss, spouse or friend tosses our way might hold a diamond’s worth of good things in store for us.

May we all find the grace to be quicker to embrace, less determined to have our own way and more willing to offer support and encouragement.

I pray all of us in transition, whether it be in a church setting or one dealing with a critical illness, a change of financial fortunes, changes on the job or the severing of a relationship, will be willing to ask God for the courage and strength to keep “pressing” forward.

And may God grant that we as parishioners and pastors — who may feel like pelicans and owls right now — make a smooth transition to our proper places as we journey on the wings of faith.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com