For my birthday this year my wife bought me a GPS. I’m not sure if she was trying to tell me something or not, but I have really enjoyed owning it; in fact, I would say that it brings me much comfort when I am in an unfamiliar place. Very rarely do I ever feel lost without it. Recently we took a trip to Columbus, Ohio and the GPS helped us find places we didn’t even know existed. I cannot recall getting lost one time while there, but even if we did the GPS automatically recalculates our position and redirects our route. What did people do before these things were invented? Read maps? So old-fashioned!I have got to be honest…I need a GPS system for my life right now. I know where I am going, but uncertain of how to get there. The last eight months of my life have been what I call a “transition period.” For the last decade, I have been involved in youth ministry working with some of the greatest students in the world. But now I am stepping out into the church planting world. It is a scary, but exciting place…if that makes sense. I have never been a lead pastor before. I have never been to a church’s first Sunday. I have never led a volunteer team of thirty people. I have never had to pay the rent (for a church, that is). Should I keep going? I keep asking myself, “And why are you making this transition?” I just know that God put a restlessness in my heart about a year ago and when this opportunity came my way, I knew it was right. Logic cannot explain why a person would leave that which is familiar for that which is unexplored. I guess when I read about some of the people in the Bible, I also see a lot of uncertainty in their hearts. God usually unveiled a plan, but failed to reveal all the details in between. Maybe God should invest in a GPS system for His followers. Maybe not. If I really believe He knows what is ahead, I’m sure He’ll let me know when I need to turn right, exit, or turn around.
