How Will We Respond?

Suzanne and I are still fairly new at this whole United Methodist thing.  But we know that we know that we know we're supposed to be here.  Even in the midst of boxes and upheaval and changes.  I don't mind change too much.  And I realize that change constantly occurs.  If I try to kid myself into thinking that change doesn't always happen, all I have to do is think back to what I was doing just 10 years ago versus today.  Wow, what a difference!

Being a United Methodist pastor means that I agree to go serve where I'm appointed.  Right now, we're packing our house up and will be moving it up the road a'piece to Asheville.  It's only 80 miles, but there's so much involved - so much to think about.  Turn this service off; return that piece of equipment; make sure things are wrapped securely so that they won't break.  The list is pretty long.

And I think about those in the Bible who were called by God, and packed everything and simply went.  Take Abram and Sarai: Abram was about 75, which would put Sarai at about 65, when God invited Abram into a covenant relationship.  God asks Abram to pack up all his belongings, take his family, and leave the safety and security of his surroundings, extended family, and community protection in order to travel.  To where?  God doesn't tell Abram.  God simply says, "Go."  And Abram takes God up on this invitation and goes.  Now I think about the times they were living in and I cannot even imagine how hard it must have been for them to go.  Even if they only traveled 80 miles, like we're doing, it would have been an incredible endeavor.  No roads.  No moving trucks.  No cell phones.  No fast food joints to stop along the way when the kids say, "Are we there yet?"  And no boxes to pack everything in.

Hmm...no boxes.  Maybe that was their advantage over our "easier" and "convenient" times.  No boxes means they more than likely didn't collect the amount of things we humans tend to have these days.  Boxes and boxes and boxes of stuff!  And our move was just two of us!  I'm sure that Abram and Sarai had valuables.  But I'm betting they didn't have as many as we do today.  Yet...I bet they  had just as much stress involved with their move as we do today.

Because when God calls, usually, God interrupts our lives.  And that's okay.  Whether it's in a move, or a call for us to renew our thinking, or stand up to do the right thing when others aren't, or help end legalized discrimination, or step outside ourselves to share the love of God with others, God constantly challenges us.  Sometimes God gently nudges us.  Sometimes God bonks us over the head and screams, "Hello!?!?!"  Either way, when God calls, how will we respond?  We have the ability to choose our responses - to God and others.  Will we be risk-takers?  Will we be timid?  Will we try to calculate our potential gains?  Honestly, the answer is yes.  We'll probably respond in all these ways - and more.  Because we're human.  And we'd like answers...concrete plans.  But most of the times, we won't get them.  We want safety and security, but we don't want people telling us what to do.  That's the paradox of life.

How will we respond when God stirs in our spirits?  It's up to us.  And God trusts us because we were made in an incredible image!