Trusting the Mystery -- from August 2007

For several days in succession I have been witness to breakthroughs of invitations to pay attention to God's constant call that draws all of us closer to a step that aligns life more accurately with God's desire. There is an unending, loving voice that says "Lay down your life as you know it, and follow me." It rarely speaks with the blows of a hammer on the head -- it usually speaks with a nudge or attraction that prompts words like: "I'm not certain where I am going...but I feel compelled to...." or "I don't know what this means, but I have noticed an increasing desire to..." You can fill in the blanks with any number of words, but it all boils down to this: A moment in time has been reached when you are no longer relying upon previously unquestioned goals or plans for your day, month or year.

No fewer than three individuals began their conversations with me today in precisely that fashion. I became aware of the amazing, mysterious way that God stops at nothing to claim the attention of the faithful. We may go years with little or no awareness of God's hand in our plans. Then, seemingly suddenly, questions emerge...and we begin to wonder about activities and relationships that connected us to a known (presumably safe) path. Even though the outcome of the questions eludes us...even though we can't see the end to which a change may lead...there is an abiding feeling of peace and trust that surpasses doubt, logistical roadblocks, or the fear of the unknown.

We all tend to place a finger in the dam of the world's dictates that obstructs us from the flow of God's will. When we say "yes, and I ask God to help and guide me" it is literally the moment when we finally remove our finger from that dam...and then, with increasing velocity and power there is a flow of purpose and hope that begins to break apart the barrier. Over time we begin to trust the flow that carries us toward unknown territories of human need. We are carried to the places where our God-given abilities and their potential can intersect with the situations where we become the instrument of God's love.

Many of us who have said "yes" have stories about that breakthrough moment. Some may have stories of a torrential flow of God's momentum in their lives. Others may tell of a process that began as a trickle...and gradually developed into a stream...and finally became a river of purpose and guidance.

However we experience the process of God's direction, it can only happen when the finger of our will (which God has allowed us to manage) is finally withdrawn from the wall of our self determined priorities, our self-image, and the path we have been following on our side of that wall. It requires faith, trust and an obedient response. It requires the belief to which Christ leads each of us. It occurs at whatever pace is necessary for each human life to "see" its part in God's mysterious plan to draw us ALL into abiding relationship with God -- the One who knows us and loves each of us beyond measure.

Through our prayerful desire to listen and attend to God revealed in Christ, we can hope to guard against the temptation to exert our will, which will always be imperfect and limited! Once we say "yes, and I ask God to help and guide me" we claim the privilege and power that we have in knowing that the world no longer rules our decisions. We trust God's mystery, and know that life will never, ever be the same!