SHAPE THE PATH

In youth ministry, we build “flux capacitors.”

In Back to the Future, Marty McFly and Doc Brown find themselves in 1955 with a DeLorean with flux capacitor attached to it that make for a time travel machine. Only problem is the machine is fueled by “plutonium” of which they have none nor has it been invented yet.

The solution of course is found in the cultural memory of Hill Valley where time stopped when the clock tower was by lightning. To get back to the future, all that is needed is to get the DeLorean up to 88mph at the same moment that lightening hits the clock tower and a loosely combination of power wires that will connect with the car at just the very right moment.

We build flux capacitors. Your next confirmation class? It’s a flux capacitor. That next LifeTeennght. It’s a flux capacitor that you and the core team build. Your parent night, your parish youth ministry’s facebook page or e-newsletter; your next retreat, workcamp, trip to a conference, cosmic bowling night…. flux capacitor, flux capacitor,flux capacitor,flux capacitor.

We build flux capacitors. We are not the lightning. We invent the program or the the tool or the devise. BUT, We are not the power.

We don’t make change in other people’s lives. They do. The Holy Spirit influences. At best, we might serve as agents or instruments of change. Mother Theresa who had a profound effect upon the world was quick to remind that she was “like a little pencilin his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencilhas nothing to do with it.”

So, everyone… Me, included! Especially, me… Let’s all get a little over our own selves…The pencilhas nothing to do with it. The Spirit provides the power, the flux capacitors have nothing to do with it.

And, yet, we are the future of the Church that desires to go and make a diff’rence. We build flux capacitors, so let’s continue figuring out what goes into making a great one.

As the Emmaus walk seemingly emphasizes what occurs in “walking together” “along the way” on that road to Emmaus journey, it is easy to overlook the whole point of the what occur at the end of the day.

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

They had been transformed in the breaking of the bread and had changed their path. If the story concludes, they stayed the night and continued on their way home- there is no story. If the story concludes, “hey our hearts were burning and that was sort of cool,” but I don’t get it- there is no story. If the story concludes any other possible way then they set out at once having changed the course of the path and their lives…, there is no story.

If we are to be agents of change, then we must talk about the transformative path.

While we often view this “transformative” moment like a conversion, Mike Carotta would suggest a viewpoint switch and declare it as an awakening… Their fears had lulled them to sleep on whatthey already knew and believed. Jesus who was the stranger on the way and Jesus who was the Messiah who broke bread only prodded them into attentiveness.

For personal change, we know that this is true. If we see a young person involved in destructive decisions in their life, we know that one of the clearest ways to rehabilitation of a healthy lifestyle is wake up, smell the coffee and change the environment. Want to diet? Arise to new patterns, consider using smaller plates and foolyourself intothinking you are getting a full serving - or – latch onto the practice of eating salads for lunch much more often. (raise hand)

But, serving as an agent of change on a larger scale… That’s a little more complex and demands a little more intentionality.

The Heath Brothers in the book Switch suggest that if you want change, you can provide a clear direction (Rider) or boost their motivation and determination (Elephant) BUT, you can also make the journey easier.

  • Create a downhill slope
  • Give them a push
  • Remove friction from the trail.
  • Scatter lots of signs to tell them that you are getting closer…

In the book, they told the story of this canned food drive that had occurred on a college campus. They had previously classified the students in this one dorm as either sinners, folks who would respond more generously to a request, or as jerks, folks who would have nothing to do with much outside of themselves.

They sent a basic letter appealing for donations to a food drive and they noted who responded… 8% of the saints made contributions, while the jerks were basically… jerks- - no one participated. In a later semester, they went back to the same cross-section. In the information that they provided they offered a detailed map to the drop-off site, they made a specific request for canned beans, and they asked each person to think about the next time they are near to spot to make a drop-off.

They outlined a path. The response was much higher with 42% of the saints and a contribution made by a quarter of the jerks.

Lesson Learned: You are better off expecting assistance from a jerk with a map than from a saint without one.

In imagining the changes you seek, here are some quick notes regarding setting the path- - -

Clearly, communication that constructs the path is essential. Clear communication is that constructs the path is essential. Clear, constructive communication is essential.

We know that our own self-control is exhaustible… we need to find ways to build in supports for the changes we seek. The Emmaus dinner was so powerful because it reminded the two disciples of “who they are and whose they are” and in this hearts-burning moment they re-engaged on the path not away from Jerusalem but towards their brothers in faith.

In working with our parish staffs, our volunteers, and the youngchurch… where are the supports set that re-engages them along the path? Yes, the liturgy! What more … for their encouragement, for their formation, their

The vision can be large and overwhelming… break it up! Nobody will get from Step Alpha to Step Omega without a whole bunch of other letters in between. And we need to embrace them,understand them, and clearly communicate about them or the whole process will just be “all Greek to me.” What will be the milestones, the mile markers, that will let you know forward progress is underway?

Finally, the book offers the suggestion of “Rally the Herd.” They tell of stories of how the “Designated Driver” movement really took off after many TV dramas and sitcoms showcased the concepts in their stories.

In Tanzania, AIDS dropped down when via radio commercials the culture was transformed regarding significant age gaps in relationships between older men and much younger women. Basically, they made it embarrassing to be “that guy.”

We’ve got a herd… a community of believers. But we must rally them towards being “on message” regarding the change. And that goes back to clear, constructive communication… It must be consistent clear, constructive communication.

Acknowledging the attainable goal that you earlier identified In Georgina’s presentation,…

Remembering Margaret’s presentation and recognizing the emotions attached to this change and the ways you have identified to shrink the change or grow the people in order to help the elephant embrace this change...

What are your earliest steps necessary to shape the path?

When Archbishop Dolan was installed a year and a half ago in New York, he told of a pilgrimage he had made in Israel. He had a wonderful Franciscan guide who made sure he had seen all the sacred places in the Holy Land. The day before his departure, the guide asked, "Is there anything left you want to see?"

"Yes," Archbishop Dolan replied, "I would like to walk the road to Emmaus."

"That we cannot do," the guide told him, "You see, no one really knows where that village of Emmaus actually was, so there is no more road to Emmaus."

Sensing the Archbishop’s disappointment, the guide suggested, "Maybe that's part of God's providence, because we can now make every journey we undertake a walk down the Road to Emmaus."

May we not only make the journey to Emmaus, but take the transformative path waking back up to “who we are and Whose we are.”

May we make every journey over I-70, the Baltimore Beltway, Interstate 97 and 95, and I-83 journey where we walk with the Lord considering how the Good News might be transformative in our lives.

May we find ourselves together with those with whom we collaborate, with those whom we serve, and with each other, walking into new days, building new flux capacitors receptive to the jiggowatt power of the Spirit, facing new challenges, stepping up to new opportunities; and walking humbly with our God.