I recently stumbled upon this speech given by the sister of the groom at a wedding:
Her speech is heartwarming in the shorthand way it conveys the mystical (but SO relatable) manner our lives progress from haphazard meanderings (a random date with “the volleyball girl”), to the unveiling of destiny (“Sarah’s the one”). In the first-person, real-time perspective, it simply isn’t possible to distinguish the paths that eventually define our life’s journey from the ones that lead to a cul-de-sac or off of a cliff. Who knows how many other first dates these siblings have texted about? But even though it all seems so accidental and messy, once you find the path you’re supposed to travel, it becomes unimaginable that life could have ever taken any other route.
I was organizing my computer files and found this old folder from when I was trying to find a pastoral position. I had filled out nearly 200 pastoral applications and questionnaires, sending them all over the continent, and the process had narrowed to these options that were at least considering having me visit for a ministry candidacy. Looking at it now, I have to study it a bit to even find my church on the list, and it was very late in the process before Three Lakes stood out at all.
We prayed a lot and sought council throughout the process. But it never felt like there was an obvious direction we should go. But now, it is difficult to fathom being anywhere else and I don’t even want to consider a life apart from our church family here in Troy. God’s will is a mystery. It is completely up to Him when and how He decides to let us in on the plan. Most of the time, it isn’t until after the fact that it makes any sense at all. But we can trust His heart and rely on His wisdom as we take each step in faith.
