Have you ever been uncertain of where you are going but certain you cannot stay where you are? Not knowing where we are going isn’t always bad. While it may make us feel vulnerable, it can also bring fulfillment. Coming out of our nest that we have long enjoyed can be a challenge. Going into the unknown requires a tighter grip on the hand of the Father.
As the mother eagle begins the process of getting her young ones out of the nest she knows it will pull on the strings of her own heart. She loves her little ones. The rabbit fur they are resting on feels good. As she gently pulls it out from under them they complain. The briars that make up the nest hurt. When she invites them to come out of the nest for a joy ride on her wing, she also knows the joy is not immediate. They are now willing to accept her invitation because it is uncomfortable where they are. What used to feel good has lost its touch. They are unsure of where they are going but realize they can’t stay where they are. As they climb out of the nest and onto her wing, she flies high with them clutching tightly. The view is great. The mountains look sweet. She suddenly tilts her body and the little ones fall off. This turns their complaining into screaming. What is mother thinking? But, the mother sweeps under them and catches them right in the nick of time. After a few episodes of this they begin to flap their wings. Soon they can fly. Now the mountains look even sweeter.
Following a call of God, Abraham set out for a strange place. He didn’t know where he was going but he knew he couldn’t stay where he was. Because of his obedience he eventually left his children one of the greatest legacies the earth has ever known. Being blessed with a child at the age of seventy-five was only part of the rewarding journey for him as he followed God. He was on a pilgrimage. Obtaining the understanding for each direction of his journey was precious because it involved intimacy with God. It must have been awesome to not know where he was going and just leaning on God to show him the way.
Jesus tells us that the wind blows wherever it wishes. We hear the sound but we don’t know where it is going. Jesus explains that we who are born of the Spirit are like that. Yes, we are like the wind. We cannot see the wind but we can feel and hear it. There are even those who have harnessed the wind for useful purposes. From a windmill to a sailboat to more modern uses of the wind - it is helpful. We can observe the effects of the wind. This can be seen in the aftermath of storms. We can see where the wind has been. So, is Jesus trying to tell us that not knowing where we are going is good? I think so.
The more we learn to trust the Lord the easier it is to follow without knowing all the details. In my walk with the Lord, I have found blessing in stepping out in some direction not knowing where it would end. It is like an adventure filled with anticipation and mystery. It will hold challenges but they are for growth and maturity. It often holds surprises, but that too is good. It is apostolic because we are on a mission for and with the King. What can feel greater than resting in hands that hold the universe?
Scripture is filled with people who didn’t know where they were going or what they were going to be doing. These people became the heroes of scripture. They also became our models and examples. Could Moses have possibly known at the burning bush that soon the wind would cause the sea to stand at attention when he raised his staff towards it? Did Noah find Mt. Ararat on his map when he entered the ark? When young Elisha chose to follow the older prophet Elijah did he see whirlwinds in the future? When Mary rejoiced over the Messiah in her womb did she see swaddling rags and Egyptian hideouts? When Paul said yes on the Damascus road did he imagine jail, hunger, persecution, nakedness, and shipwreck?
Outside of scripture, we know of stories where there have been those who have carried the torch of going into the unknown. Did Christopher Columbus know he would find a brand new world? Did Martin Luther King, while delivering one of the most powerful speeches of our generation see a bullet down the path? There are those who have brought great freedom to multitudes by following the unmarked path. From the beginning of time people who went forward unsure of where they were going have left legacies.
Those who journey into the unknown are sometimes labeled irresponsible or it is said that they may lack vision, however often they are the courageous pioneers. Though they may not know exactly where they are going - they know they are heading into something beautiful. They follow the cloud and the fire. They blaze unknown trails. They make the way for future generations to follow. They make it easier. Is there a pioneer spirit in any believers today? Are there those who are ready to rise up knowing they cannot stay where they are? Are they brave enough to go forward unsure of where they are going? Who will say amen to the journey God has planned for us before time began? Who will trust the Journey-Maker?
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