In “layman’s terms”, it means “balance.”

When I was dating my future wife, I introduced her to the adventures of canoeing. My family had enjoyed that for years. So off we went – her, me, my brother and HIS future wife. Big mistake. In their impetuous youth, the girls in the middle decided to jostle around, leading to our own version of “Tippecanoe”. It ended up being not the last time in a canoe with her, but…..

Homeostasis is one of those “twenty thousand dollar” psychology words used to describe a system of human interaction. It is the greatest force in a system. We need equilibrium, balance. There are “rules” governing how the system functions; social mores. As in canoeing, it can be tremendously peaceful, comfortable, and relaxing, until someone inside moves. Then all must shift or equilibrium is upset.

Congregations are families. At their healthiest, everyone knows their place in the canoe. There is flexibility to enjoy the ride. The conditions of homeostasis can, and should be, negotiated from time to time. When there is trouble in the church family system, there is rigidity, inflexibility. We cannot keep it the same for all eternity, of course. Our ever-changing world will not allow for that. But when we let go of our personal hang-ups about the minutiae, the small stuff, then there is no need to “sweat the load.”

Whether there are two, four, or twenty-four people in the canoe (just picture that!), homeostasis is a living, active thing. Our God is living and active, keeping the canoe stable for us with His unconditional love.

Pastor Art