Shepastor: Early Edition...“God leads us on by paths we did not know…”

It is election eve night (Monday). I’m writing Shepastor early because of the many things going on between now and Wednesday. Tomorrow, our Nation will re-elect or elect the next President of the United States. There is lots of anxiety all around. Fears that those devastated by Hurricane Sandy will not have the opportunity or desire to vote, angst about voter suppression, hours and hours of long lines, robo calls, disenfranchisement etc.

We don’t know what the outcome will be. I have my hopes and I am certain that you have yours. As much as we would like to snap our fingers, choose our person and say, “it is finished!” we will just have to wait. Even when the election is over, some will rejoice and some will lament.

As the people of God, by faith, we must be prepared for whatever the outcome may be. We must remember that the Government shall be upon “His” shoulders. No matter the outcome, we must continue to “do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).” No matter the outcome, we must continue to be drum majors for social justice.

Vote and then rest, for “He leads us on by paths we did not know…”

Consider the profound and haunting words of Dr. Howard Thurman as we trust in the Lord and lean not to our own understanding…

"He leads us on by paths we did not know. There is an abiding desire to know the future, to see around the corner of the days and years. Even when we say we do not concern ourselves about what will happen next month or next year, the shy insistence still remains - we want to know. This normal feeling is a part of all the anxiety which we face on the threshold of any new adventure. If we could be sure that all will be well - if we could have some guarantee that our present hopes would not betray us and leave us deserted in the lonely place - then we would find the peace that belongs to the contented. But life is not like that...He leads us on by paths we did not know." – (The Inward Journey, by Howard Thurman, p. 53. Friends United Press edition, 1986.)

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepstor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday, In Faith, Hope and Perseverance, Pastor Chris