TURN SIGNALS

It has long been a pet peeve of mine – turn signals on vehicles. My problem? People who do not use them! I am surrounded by drivers (including local law enforcement officers) who seem to be quite well informed about where they are going (except for the occasional disoriented tourist); it is just that I too would appreciate that information. Its not that I’m being nosey, or butting in where I’m not suppose to be. I just think that I should be apprised of the other driver’s intentions. Are they turning right, or left? Are they turning at all? It is not much to ask, really.

Patented in 1907, turn signals became more widely available in the 1940s. It was not until the 1960s that turn signals became standard equipment on all motor vehicles. It would be difficult, if not altogether impossible, to find a new, legally appointed motor vehicle for sale in this country today without turn signals. This is, I would assume, because the gods of motor vehicles would intend for us to actually use them! Please forgive my rant.

This is, of course, just a clever (or not so clever) way of leading you into thoughts about how you communicate with the staff here at Hope (which, to a great extent is yours truly, but includes others as well). After nearly 5 years of ministry here at Hope I still occasionally hear about someone’s hospitalization or other matters that might involve pastoral care, after the fact. Even deaths are sometimes not matters of which I am until days later. Fortunately, this is the exception rather than the rule, but I would certainly appreciate being in the loop.

If I am driving my car behind another vehicle, and the driver of that vehicle leans over to the passenger in that vehicle and says, “I’m going to turn right here,” but does not then also turn on his/her turn signal; then I am in the dark, and the destination of that vehicle in front of me will unfold in a rather surprising manner. It is the same with my pastoral duties. You may suffer a loss, or have a medical situation, or just need pastoral care for some other reason. You might tell friends and neighbors, other members of the congregation, hoping, perhaps, that the pastor might catch wind of it. Or maybe you hope the pastor will just happen to read the paper and discover there amongst the news some tidbit of information. But the way to be sure, and the greatest gift for me and my work as a pastor, is direct, honest, and timely communication.

So please use your turn signals. And please don’t let me be the last to know. Thank you.

                                                                                                 - Pastor Vance L. Toivonen