Trusting the Guide

I still remember the chuckles echoing around the large room as each participant shuffled, felt, and stumbled through the elaborate obstacle course. We were all taking part in a leadership summit at the summer camp for youth ministry. The instructor for the course we were taking had kept the lectures fairly routine up to this point, but now the course was taking a whole new turn. He had divided our group into two sections—half of us were told to wait outside and half of us stayed in the room. While the others were “exiled,” we were told to organize an obstacle course in the large room using chairs, plants, pillows, tables, and other objects. After a great deal of rearranging, the others were finally let into the room, but to our surprise they were blindfolded. “Now, the leader announced, your job is to guide them through the obstacle course using nothing but words.” Needless to say, our verbal communication was taken to a whole new level as we urgently talked our sightless teammates through the maze of objects. Even though the exercise gave us plenty of laughs, I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for those who had to navigate the puzzle with nothing to guide them, but our hurried speech. Adventuring with the help of others is a blessing, but in this case, it also involved a great deal of suspense. But the experience did give us a vivid illustration of trust. Trust is one of those feelings that can’t be proven true very well unless it has been tested. And this instance trusting our guides while walking in darkness is an apt illustration of the kind of trust Jesus was talking about when He said to His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Don’t worry about having all the answers. If you trust in me, I’ll give you just what you need to know at each step of the way. I’m the way you must take to connect with the Father.” Life can often feel like walking blind through an obstacle course. During the especially suspenseful times, it can feel like hurling yourself back into a blind trust fall. But as we take each shaky step, often with difficulty and plenty of mistakes along the way, we can rest assured that Jesus is walking beside us.

 

Come join us for Friday Night Vespers at Melvin and Suzie’s place each Friday evening at 6 pm. Come ready for a relaxing meal, warm fellowship, insightful conversation, and a video Bible study! For more info, call 509-520-0568

 

UCC Men’s Summit, March 1-3, Camp Mivoden: Come get uplifted and nourishment by a weekend of fellowship and inspiring presentations. This year’s featured speaker is Kevin Wilfley. For more info contact Richie Brower at 509-838-2761. Online registration is coming soon.

 

The Power of Personal Testimonies, Ministry Training Seminar, February 9, 2 pm, at St. Maries Church: Come join us for a fun, interactive take on how you can share your story of God’s grace! Right after the fellowship meal at St. Maries that Sabbath, we’ll meet in the sanctuary for a short presentation and some practical ministry tips. we’ll talk about how to craft your own personal testimony and how to effectively share it with others.

 

Soup’s On at St. Maries and Osburn: Each Wednesday at 5 pm at Osburn Church and each Thursday at 5 pm at St. Maries we’ll be getting together for a tasty soup dinner. Also, don’t miss our weekly half-hour studies in the Book of Daniel. Our Discoveries in Daniel Series provides plenty of insightful conversation, Bible readings, delicious food, and warm fellowship each evening. Hope to see you there!

 

Voice of Prophecy Seminar, Starting March 1, at 6:30 pm, St. Maries Church: This series will pull back the curtains on some of history’s most pivotal events by looking at what the Bible prophecy teaches about our past, present, and future.