There is a joy in the journey
There’s a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom to those who obey
From Michael Card’s “There is a Joy in the Journey”
These are the opening words to a song I have loved since the first time I heard it. And let me tell you, I am in the middle of experiencing the wonder and wildness to life right now. This newest version started back when we began to feel GOD’s pull on our life to Montana. I hope I’ve been able to show in my last two blogs just how nutty this whole process has been for us. We received no direct invitation from a human agency to get involved in God’s work with the Southern Baptists here in Montana. We were going off of some divine inspiration which included the word GO. Not much else.
As I found myself struggling with this, I received a verse from two different sources, one from my Mom, Carrie (thanks, Mom) and the second from a wonderful little book titled “The Red Sea Rules” by Robert J. Morgan (thanks, Palmer) quoting the story found in Genesis where the faithful old servant Eliezer has been given the difficult task of finding a bride for Isaac. The mission is sort of simple. Abraham tells him to go back to his old home and find a girl for his son and bring her back. In principle, this mission appears to be quite easy. Just mount up on some camels, go to Mesopotamia and find a girl. But, what if Isaac doesn’t like my choice? What if something goes wrong? What if…. What if…..What if? Yet, Eliezer takes off on his journey, and after meeting the perfect girl, Rebekah, and her family, Eliezer is recounting his adventure and speaks the (to me) magical words: “As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me….” (Gen. 24:27 NKJV).
Wildness and Wonder to life. In this context, wonder is defined as amazement, something strange and surprising, a feeling of awe. Wildness and Wonder can bring about a moment of fear, of uncertainty at standing in front of something bigger than one-self. The moment of taking a step into the unknown can bring about a sense of dread and exhilaration at the same time: the heebie-jeebies. The” What ifs” in life start popping up: was it just indigestion, will my kids hate me, can I support my family, will I be successful, am I making a huge mistake, can it wait until later?
As I looked at my options, I had one real one going for me: “Get on the way, I’ll lead you. Trust in Me.” That was from GOD. Nobody heard it, it was not written specifically anywhere in the Bible for this particular situation, it is just those things we know about HIM that sound real good from the pulpit, or in a Bible study, or when we think about GOD, yet, when it is actually time to bite the bullet and take that step in obedience, boy oh boy, things get harder. Don’t they? I mean, I’m no great brave man. In fact, I’m pretty fearful most of the time, and I actually had very little going for me at that time. Unemployed, a big household with big appetites, my recent work experience in insurance did not seem to fit real well with the work opportunities in Montana, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah.
The end of the story is this: as I hopped into that little Honda Civic and started northward on my journey to Helena, my joy increased within me. Yes, I was nervous, afraid, excited, anticipating, unknowing. All these resulted in some wild joy at doing the unexpected, the different. The LORD continued to provide for me and my family with each step of the way. Even though we were separated by 2,000 miles and I was racking up extra expenses driving all over the country and eating at McDonald’s and feeding gas stations all over the great West, GOD provided for all our needs, and more.
And even now, as we are all here together, our needs are still being fully met. Sharon and I are experiencing joy. Our kids are caught in the somewhat fearful wake of our decisions and we pray that they too will experience joy – not only because of the beauty of nature around us, or the newness of our surroundings, or even because they are involved in something a little crazy and scary, but because that joy is coming from the peace within, knowing that they are in the center of GOD’s will for their lives. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf. We have a long road ahead of us.
More musings, coming up!
Best, Dan
Sharon and Dan,
We will continue to pray for you guys. I also love the Michael Card song…Joy in the Journey. I find myself humming it when things get really, really hard. It is a reminder to have joy in the journey and that He has given us freedom. Good job obeying!!
Liana Vincent
CHIHUAHUA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Que padre lo que estas viviendo La vida se pone interesante cuando con suma ternura y paciencia, Dios nos va quitando todos nuestros bastones de soporte y nos deja sin nada en que apoyarnos, solo en El. Gracias a Dios por ello, porque ahora si, las mieles de verle actuar estaran a tu alcance, y no olvides, hermano, que lo que El comienza, lo termina, asi que si los llevo en esta aventura a Montana, El se encargara de TODO, Estamos orando mucho por uds. especialmente por los chavos. Un beso enorme a todos. Les amo mucho, Monica
Reminds me of my study of Sarah and Abaham when God told him to go, only he didn’t even know where he was going. Now that would be really scary. I pray the family will come along with their emotions as the Lord shows them the fruit of your labor. We love you.
A. Carole and U. Bob
You look like a (fill in with the appropriate, insulting noun), sing like a squeaky wheel, but I sure like your writing. Keep it up big bro.
look like a televangelist? Wait, that’s way too insulting….better think it over again….