Some of you know the "How Much More" of the experience Kathy and I had on our honeymoon. The entire trip was an adventure full of surprises. Yet, we were most looking forward to our descent into the Grand Canyon to the Havasaupi Indian Reservation and the various stunning water falls that are among the most beautiful places in the world. The possibility that our actual experience would exceed all expectations, that there would be a giant sized "How Much More" waiting for us, was nowhere in our minds. Ask me sometime how our lives were deeply impacted by this experience but I will tell you one thing right now. I saw a side of my new wife that I had never seen before; a level of determinaiton and strength that can only be revealed by a crisis. Sometimes it is very important for me to look back and remember the "How Much More" of Kathy that I encountered on an exhausting trail deep in the Grand Canyon.
My life is full of such experiences of, "How Much more!" They seem to be a pattern in my spiritual life. The difference now, after many such experiences, is that now I am more likely to conscious that I am heading in the general direction of such an epiphany.
The First Baptist Church and I wrote an exciting, and ultimately successful, proposal to the Lilly Endowment seeking funding from my sabbatical. But what about the "How Much More" of this sabbatical that we did not know about when we wrote the proposal? We presented in our proposal challenging goals that would be pursued for the mutual benefit of church and pastor, but what about the "How Much More?" "How Much More" does God intend? "How Much More" can only be known as the journey unfolds?
The premier event of my sabbatical, at least in terms of time, cost, and exposure to unknown experiences and people, is my planned encounter with Turkey and Islam. When asked, "Why Turkey?," and, "Why Islam?" it is not difficult to come up with some very good answers. For at least a dozen years I have known that Turkey has some of the most dramatic topography (Cappadocia) in the world. Turkey may be the locale of more clashes between civilizaitons, cultures and religions than any place in the world. It is possible in Turkey to immerse oneself in the religion of Islam, thus gaining insight into how the religions of the world can live together in peace. The Christian story that has long been so transforming for me is told in Turkey by the ancient sights, magnificient churches, and rich history/.
Those are my reasonable and conscious reasons for chosing Turkey and Islam. But the evidence is accumulating that they are not the deepest reasons for why Turkey and Islam have been chosen for me. I observe, for example, a deepening interest in Islam that is growing in anticipation of my encounters there. Our Adult Forum at church is into our fourth week of discussing the book, "The Faith Club." A student at Wittenbery recommened two books that would provide basic insights into Islam. I am devouring them.
I am looking forward to beginning a friendship converstaion with a Moslem in Springfield that has been arranged for us by a mutual friend. There may be opportunities to spend a few days in Turkey with Moslems and/or Christians. I have my plans. What are God's plans?
All of a sudden, a few days ago, I noticed the accumulation of these experiences and insights that may, they just may, be God's preparation for all that is to come. I don't know for sume what is coming but I know that I have been awakened to the possibility of "How Much More?" And I realized that the answers to many questions I have been asked about, "Why Turkey,?" "Why Islam?" "How will this help our church?" can only be, "I don't know yet." I have some preliminary hunches, but the bottom line is that, "I won't know until I get thee? Stay tuned!
