I live in the Pacific Northwest and have, like many in this region of the country, whitewater rafted. There are venues galore. I have my favorites. I rafted one favorite location of one favorite river many times. No matter how many times I would raft it, I would have to make adjustment. Perhaps that is the origin of the term “midstream adjustment.” I don’t know; I haven’t googled it. But, if it is, I can certainly understand why the term is appropriate for that setting. Mark Twain gave us a hint of the need to adjust along the river. The corrections that need to be made are numerous. Even in the same location water volumes, temperature and added timber or fallen formations would change the way one handles the raft. It is because the river is “alive.” It never seems to be static.
The same is true with life (assuming we are alive)- it is ever changing, requiring midstream corrections. Some do it well. Others just want everything to be the same all of the time and will respond the same way regardless. If things do change, they are miserable and unwilling to adjust. They don’t “do change” and don’t like to make adjustments- especially if it infers that they have done something less than stellar along the way. But midstream corrections are necessary as moods change, relationships become strained, health challenges emerge, financial matters need attention, possessions break, schedule interruptions are inevitable, unforeseen issues arise, surprise guests or relatives arrive, we learn that we were doing the wrong things along the way and emotions are ever changing. These all prompt our need for making adjustments.
Enter Apollos. He was a believer- a brother in Christ from Alexandria. The Bible tells us that he was an eloquent speaker (likely erudite) and knew the Scriptures well (Acts 19:24-28). He apparently caught on well with Ephesian culture and religion. He convinced people in Ephesus to serve God. But, in the process he discovered the “good news” he was bringing was only half of the “good news”. His experience and knowledge were limited. And by the good grace of Priscilla and Aquila (a wife and husband ministry couple) he became better informed of the whole measure of the good news- knowledge and experience of the Holy Spirit invigorated his better understanding of full salvation. We leave the story impressed by the adjustments he must have made. He was encouraged by the brothers to go to Greece. He went and was extremely effective there. He refuted error and benefited the church greatly. He gathered an impressive (though perhaps unhealthy) following there (1 Corinthians 3:3ff) putting him on par with the famous apostle Paul. To some his stature was elevated above Paul.
For me, the most impressive character was not his skill in oratory or debate. It was his ability to make adjustments midstream. We get no sense that he was offended by the corrections made in his theology or by the people who brought him the new information. We must conclude that being a person of attractive skill he had high ego potential and strength of character, most successful and winsome people do. But, he must have been humble enough to make the necessary adjustments to make him more effective. We don’t get as much as a whimper from him in the Scripture. No apparent set-backs. He plugs on and continues his effective ministry. I like the guy and don’t even know him; never met him.
Life changes constantly. We need to be humble enough and willing enough and courageous enough to make midstream adjustments. There isn’t much static about living in this world if we want to be very effective.
Currently, I am writing or answering about 25 emails per day and making a dozen or so calls each day from a less than optimum setting- a hospital room. We have a sicky on our hands (like Apollos, another all-around good guy) and have great friends taking care of business back home. I can certainly say that this is not part of the plan. This was not in our script. We didn’t foresee or will the present circumstances. But, we are making midstream adjustments and finding the church to be loving and forgiving and our times together sweet while we adjust.
Today we were sent up to ICU. The room is bigger and better. But, I would prefer being back in the regular ward with a healthier son. I would prefer Mitch being healed. I would prefer getting back into the field where the church is. I would prefer taking care of my own business without the generous aid of friends and family. I would prefer my office. I would prefer my own bed. But, we are making midstream corrections in more ways than I can express here. But, I hope that like Apollos, we are making them well and someone is benefited along the way. If so, we’ll just keep river rafting along, making the midstream corrections and enjoying the ride.