I’ve been thinking a lot about transition lately; moving will do that to you.

Of course, I am not only in the midst of what one might call domestic transition - I am also transitioning professionally, moving from the position of installed pastor to what we cutting-edge types in the church are now calling Transitional Ministry; after eleven years in one place, I am now an Interim Pastor, serving the Smyrna church for, as I told one young friend, more than a month, but less than forever.

It seems like transition is all over the place these days. The Committee on Ministry looks after churches in transition; indeed, the presbytery itself is searching for a Transitional Presbyter; and the PC(USA) continues to transition from what it was into, quite literally, Lord knows what.

Of course, I wouldn’t be The Preacher® if I didn’t use this as an excuse to do some etymological work. So, what is transition, anyway?

Merriam-Webster defines transition (noun) as the process or  period of changing from one state or condition to another.

In its plural form, Transitions™ is a brand of photo-chromic eyeglass lens – the kind that  go from clear inside to sunglassy outside.

In genetics, Transition is a point mutation that changes a purine nucleotide to another purine (A ↔ G) or a pyrimidine nucleotide to another pyrimidine (C ↔ T). Don’t ask me – I was an English Major.

In wrestling, Transition is the movement from one grappling hold or position to another, while in basketball, Transition is what one calls the change from defense to offense, or vice-versa.

Of all these, I particularly like the last two definitions, for a couple of reasons.

I can imagine the struggle of Jacob with God that dark night by the Jabbok river; the grunting, sweating, grabbing and twisting, each transition symbolic of Jacob’s experience: each clench, each escape and subsequent hold evoking his hard headed, hard fought approach to life, and the constant, unceasing change in store for his progeny.

Then again, I think about the importance of transition to winning basketball games. Each basket or possession change is like a little ending, as offense changes to defense; but it is also a new beginning, as defense now goes on the offensive. In those moments of transition, much can happen – baskets made, opponents worn down, momentum changed -  if a team recognizes the value of that transitional moment, and approaches it with specific goals in mind, and the plans to achieve them. Red Aurebach, legendary coach of the Boston Celtics, was perhaps the first to exploit this in-between time, advocating the fast break, in which the offense exploits that time of change to push the ball down the court and score.

As Interim Pastor for the Smyrna Presbyterian Church, it is my task to help the Session and congregation make the most of this ‘in between time,’ helping to identify, in the midst of change, the goals to which God is calling us,  the tools and resources he has provided, and the best way for us to use those resources in this time and place. May God bless us in this time of transition.