Start Here… Look, See, Pray

Life is an adventure…

A cute gosling starting out on the adventure of a lifetime. The future may hold chicks of her own- it may hold only a short unfortunate encounter with a fox or peregrine! Who knows?

Beginnings are precious. In any part of life, human or otherwise, a new day brings fresh choices and opportunities. What lies in store is unknown- even the most conventionally boring of days can spring surprises that change everything.

If life were a a board game, we start on “Go.” But a board game depends completely on chance, the throw of a dice.

To live in faith means we don’t submit to random choice. We have a “Rule of Life” to guide our choices, responses, and behaviour. We also believe that living has purpose and significance: for me as a Christian, I could sum it up as “Being WITH Jesus, Becoming LIKE Jesus, DO as He did.” (If you fancy a good read, John Mark Comer’s new book “Practicing the Way” develops this brilliantly.)

It is worth noting that the Biblical narratives record the fact that God guides and instructs: He intervenes in history. For some few that may be a huge push in a specific direction: most of “us ordinary folk” operate on a lesser scale. But we don’t live subject to blind chance.

One specific instance – in the “Book of Joshua” – is worth reading. God commands, inspires, and accompanies Joshua and the pilgrim people. In the same way, God’s guidance and instruction for us today can be legitimately expected. After all, Jesus uttered his most basic invitation as “Follow me.” So we are going to be on pilgrimage: living in the Way that Jesus portrayed, as companions with our Lord. There is an adventure to be had! But we need not live in fear or discouragement, whatever our circumstances. Every day, we “Start Here.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”