Detours
I like to know exactly where I am going and when I am expected to be there. The more certainty I have about those key things, the better I feel about reaching my destination in good order. I have become incredibly reliant on the maps from my cell phone apps when I am attempting to negotiate a new city. This week I have been a little lost. I left my phone in my son’s car, which is now in New Jersey. That has added significantly to my stress levels as I try to visit many of our mission partners.
What I have discovered, though, is that by not relying on my phone I am more aware of my surroundings. I’m noticing street names, interesting buildings, and other landmarks that, ultimately, will help me navigate without relying on a GPS. My eyes are focused outside my car rather than at the dashboard immediately in front of me. I may not always be as certain as I would like to be about reaching my destination, but the drive is far more interesting.
We often approach our relationship with God in a similar way and conflate faith with certainty. However, we have to recognize that “faith and certainty are not the same. Too much certainty about what, why, and how God works gets in God’s way.”[1] It causes us to keep our focus on what is right in front of us, often missing the bigger picture and seeking to find joy in the journey.
Our life is not meant to be solely about arriving at some arbitrary destination whether it be a certain status, or lifestyle, or a sense of accomplishment or achieving recognition of some sort. Ultimately, the journey is the “thing.” There are many so-called obstacles that enter our lives and interfere with our sense of security and assurance that we are on the right road. Yet, in hindsight, it’s almost always the obstacles that enhance our relationship with God, growing our faith, and strengthening our lifelong transformation into the people God created us to be.
I will absolutely be using my phone as a GPS again when I get it back later this week. But I also want to be more alert to my surroundings and attempt to be a little more relaxed amid unexpected detours. I certainly do not want to get in God’s way as unforeseen and challenging situations are used to continue to mold and shape me into the person God desires for me to be.
[1] Lewis, Stephen, et al. Another Way: Living & Leading Change on Purpose. Chalice Press, 2020.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s new Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.