Proclaimer Blog
To fly to serve part 3
By now, I’m thinking I deserve a BA discount. Any takers? My metaphor may do wonders for the long haul travel market. Step 3 is in level flight. This is where the most part of the journey happens. To listeners it may not seem as glamourous as take-off, nor landing. But in fact, the pilot knows that the distance and direction is covered by the largest portion of the time – time spent in level flight.
This is where the Bible speaker gets the truth from the page and applies it to the hearers’ hearts through their minds. It needs to be understood first, and then – because it is understood – it needs to be felt. What helps?
Structure helps. A pilot needs a flight plan. There should not be too many legs and, like take-off, not too many abrupt changes of direction. In fact, each change should flow naturally from the last. Gentle turns rather than steep banking. I recently flew back from India and we changed direction – slightly – only twice. Whether you have 3 points or 0 points is not really, well, the point. Rather, there should be natural and gentle progression.
Balance helps. People want and need a smooth flight. That will get them to their destination calm rather than agitated. So, for example pace is key. Don’t spent 20 minutes on your first 5 verses and 5 minutes on the next 20. No one wants to be on a flight like that. They’ll worry whether you are going to make it to your destination. And avoid turbulence. Have you ever talked to someone after a long distance flight? What do they say? “A bit bumpy.” Even when it mostly smooth. People remember the lumps and bumps and so – on the whole – you don’t want any lumps and bumps.
Preparing for the end also helps. Don’t leave all your application until the end for example. That’s too much to load into the landing. A careful and wise pilot gives passengers regular updates to show them where they’re going. He tells them the time and weather at their destination, so that when they get there, they’re all ready for it.
And by the end, people should be with you. This is key. Level flight draws people in and helps them to understand the passage and feel the emotion it is supposed to stir in us.