Day 09 - Cappadocia

No Plan B

There Is No Plan B.

After enjoying another delicious Turkish breakfast — garnished with a dollop of eggplant jam and the best cappuccino I’ve ever tasted — Marty kicked off our morning devotional with another thought-provoking story:

“After His time on earth, Jesus is in heaven telling the angels about everything that happened — all the parables, the apostles’ reactions, and miracles.

At the end of the story, he says “and then I left and gave them The Great Commission and left the project in their hands. And the angels said why would you do that? What if they fail? What is your backup plan?

And Jesus says, “I’m sorry; there is no Plan B”.

All week, we’ve walked in the path of those who’ve come before us. Day 9 was not only about standing in the shoes of the Apostles, but recognizing that we stand on the shoulders of ALL the unnamed, unsung heroes of the faith. Those who courageously and self-sacrificially gave their lives, hid, and fled for the preservation of the Gospel. Those whose stories’ fulfillment rely on the faithful completion of our own. As Marty says, “Only together with your faith will their faith be made perfect.”

There is no Plan B.

Our first stop was the underground city of Derinkuyu in Cappadocia. When faced with Roman persecution, early Christians dug and hid in elaborate underground cities. One of 250 such cities, this one was 220 feet deep, 12 stories, 16 levels, and 12 blocks long. Imagine an elaborate underground tunnel system filled with up to 20,000 people and livestock…living for up to a year in total darkness, grappling with disease, malnutrition, and blindness from lack of sun exposure.  

All 48 of us descended through this cave-like, underground city, crouching through long narrow stairways that seemed several blocks long—trying not to succumb to claustrophobia and the temptation to turn back. We devoted ample time beneath the earth’s surface for somber reflection and thoughtful discussion as Marty challenged us to reframe what persecution REALLY means unlike our more trivial modern-day complaints: “We have mistaken the loss of privilege for persecution.” Mic. Drop.

Marty also challenged our western definitions of heroism. In addition to those who died for the faith, Christianity was largely preserved by the people who fled and endured horrendous living conditions in hiding. Their faith was too important to have a Plan B. Unlike today, where the cross serves as a symbol of triumph and pride, it was a sign of solidarity for early Christians — a reminder that Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer. Jesus didn’t just go to the cross so that we didn’t have to. He went to the cross to show us “the way” of a Christ-follower.

As we spend the remainder of our trip in the luxurious Utopia hotel, lined with the same volcanic material that housed the early Christians, let us not forget the holy responsibility we have to further the story, to pass the torch, to use our freedom well. Not only for those who came before but the generations to come.

For many of us, the weight of all this can feel daunting. Marty cautioned us against giving into the enemy’s tactics of negative self-condemnation. Instead, he encouraged us to lean into more productive words like conviction, inspiration, and remembrance. He said God’s grace is never about perfection versus failure, but rather transformation and growth. “Even if you fail for years to come, your most important move is always your next one.” Don’t give up. Don’t stop. A great cloud of witnesses cheers you on.

There is no Plan B.

After a delicious three-course Turkish lunch, our final stop was the Open Air Museum, where we visited some of the earliest churches. Marty explained that you need four pillars for a faith to flourish:

1. Text

2. Community

3. Discipleship

4. Wrestling

Though much of Christianity originated in Turkey, it fell short in a few of these areas due to several factors over time. Which of these can be strengthened in your life? In your community?

For example, Marty said, “Knowing what the Bible says is different from KNOWING the Bible.” When the Bible is inside us, God can use it in powerful ways, even if we don’t understand or interpret it correctly. “His words never return void.”

After dinner, a few of us headed into town to visit a Turkish rug shop called Kilim Art Gallery. It is owned by a sweet and robust Turkish man named Orhan and his family, and they sell rugs handmade by the villagers and nomads of the region. He generously laid out rug after gorgeous rug, explaining the meaning of each symbol and that each masterpiece can take several months to make. Turkish hospitality overflowed in the form of hot apple tea, guest book signing, and a lifetime membership into the family. The best part of travel to any country is the locals.

The most valuable — and imperfect — rugs in the store were called Kilim. Orhan explained that the creator intentionally incorporates imperfections and asymmetries in the design to prove its value as an original. They design them based on how they feel throughout the process, creating the only piece of that kind that will ever exist.

(Cue Marty’s voice, hat thrown in the dirt) Boy, does God just love to do the same thing! Those quirks and qualities that the world calls flaws were put in you specifically to run a particular race and to point to Him as our origin. In other words, our imperfections don’t render us damaged; they enhance our value as hand-made by the Creator. God’s Plan A.

There is no Plan B.

As we near the end of our journey in Turkey, I pray that we all develop the same “no Plan B” conviction about God that he has about us and the same “Plan A love” God has towards ALL people. May we become mediums so full of radical love, reckless faith, and abundant grace that looks at EVERYONE and says YOU BELONG HERE. Then we can one day run to Jesus and say, “Jesus! Jesus! Come see what we’ve done with the place!!” And all the angels who were at one time skeptical will rejoice.

- Katie