“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Out here in the South it’s pretty common to drive down the road and get behind a car displaying some sort of religious sticker. Personally, I think it’s totally cool for people to express themselves anyway they choose, (remember, I do currently wear my hair in dreadlocks). Lately, one bumper sticker in particular has caused me to pause and reflect. Alongside of the typical chrome bling-bling Jesus fish and “My boss is a Jewish carpenter”, it’s almost inevitable to find a “God Bless America” sticker.
Although I think the phrase “God Bless America” is great, I can’t help but wonder if anyone has come across a bumper sticker displaying a message like: “God Bless the glue sniffing African orphan who is coping with the
death of his parents as a result of the AIDS virus”.
Of course one reason might be the fact that it would require an entire car bumper to fit! But seriously, why isn't it common place to see stickers asking God to bless poor third world countries?
My heart in saying this has nothing to do with critical judgment. I’m simply examining the motive behind this everyday catchphrase. I pause and wonder why it is so difficult at times to actually acknowledge the needs of others? It may be easy enough to throw some money towards a charity in a performance based religious sort of way; but how often do we respond to the hurting people we encounter in our everyday pilgrimage with a genuine heart of unconditional love?
I have to admit, it might seem pretty strange if someone stood up after getting an Oscar and said “God bless our drug addicts and prostitutes”; however, isn’t it true that they need Gods blessing as well? Or how about this crazy concept: try praying for God to bless the incarcerated man convicted of a sex crime. I don't say this jokingly but as a real challenge. Try it and see how it doesn't flow very naturally, and then ask the question “WHY”.
To be honest, married life hasn’t turned out to be very close to what either one of us imagined. Although we diligently sought out good pre-marital preparation, we could not have imagined the surprises we encountered during the course of this first year. Unlike the dreamy fairytale we anticipated, this season of life has been extremely challenging—to say the least. This, however, isn’t much of a shock for the majority of married couples we’ve talked to. In the midst of appliances and vehicles breaking, job hunting and learning to work through difficult circumstances together—we are overwhelmed with to-dos as the due date for our baby inches closer. This place is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. In the past, it seems, some refreshing drink of water was provided just when dehydration was setting in. Now it feels as though we’ve been wandering in the desert, and are beginning to stagger in delirium.
Despite all these trials, great joy is coming soon; after months of not knowing, we recently found out we’re going to be having a baby girl! We’ve picked out the name Anna Joy and are anxiously awaiting her arrival. One neat thing about the name we picked is the Arabic translation of the word Anna. It means “I am”, so every time we call her name we are actually saying ‘I am Joy’. To actually realize there’s a little baby girl growing in Nicole’s belly is extremely surreal. It’s amazing to just sit back and watch her press out and move around in there. The due date is May 8th and we’ve been under a lot of pressure to get the baby room ready and many other preparations.
Despite all these trials, great joy is on the horizon; after months of not knowing, we recently found out we’re going to be having a baby girl! To actually realize there’s a little baby girl growing in Nicole’s belly is extremely surreal. We’ve picked out the name Anna Joy and are anxiously awaiting her arrival. One neat thing about the name we picked is the Arabic translation of the word Anna. It means “I am”, so every time we call her name we are literally saying ‘I am Joy’.
It’s amazing to just sit back and watch her move around. The due date is May 8th and we’ve been under a lot of pressure to finish up all the necessary preparations such as making the house child safe and getting her room ready.
In the Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 14 part 3, it says “Saving faith has different degrees of strength and weakness. It may be attacked and weakened often and in many ways, but it gets the victory. In many believers it matures and become completely assured through Christ, who both creates and perfects our faith.”
One thing I try and continually remind myself is something a good friend once told me: “life shouldn’t be examined as a Polaroid snapshot but as video footage.” Inevitably there will come days of extremely difficult and relentless circumstances. Seasons of the refiners fire, or as King Solomon put it: a season and a time for every matter under the sun. A time to break down, weep, lose, mourn, tear, cast away, pluck up and even die.
However, I am becoming more and more convinced that the eternal significance and value of our life has very little to do with these types of circumstances. I find my craving for comfort and security subsiding and being replaced with something much more beautiful, yet much more risky.
Discovering your heart’s passions and desires doesn’t come without a cost. They are found in the very fiber of our being, yet they are often continually attacked and discouraged. Most people have loud megaphones screaming messages opposing any attempt to this discovery. They hear lies such as, “this is stupid”, “you’ll never make it” or “this is a waste of time.” This tragedy is what drives me to encourage others towards experiencing their own heart’s passions.
I love the trust and faith as the Psalmist displayed when he said “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want… Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” I long to walk courageously knowing that no matter what it looks like, the Lord is by my side; to know and believe that my Daddy loves me and then be free to go after the things I’ve been crafted and created for.
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