You Know the Way

Peer with me into an intimate setting. After dinner on the most important holiday of the year, the family talking and laughing in the den. Lights are low but not dim, voices quiet but not subdued. Laughter lays like a thin veil over a somber mood. The eldest brother, the leader of the clan, is preparing to move. Saying his goodbyes. He is receiving a promotion, the opportunity of a lifetime. He is excited that his destiny is so near, but sadness whispers that this period in his family's life is now over and can never be repeated. He knows this is the last time they will be together like this for a long, long time.

You have been there. I have too. Maybe not in the den, but in that time of transition. Giving up the known for the unknown. Trading the certain for the unproven. Watching some of the best and truest moments of my life pass before my eyes, trying to hold them in my heart because I will never hold them in my hands again.

I have lately been making decisions about where my family is going. Not physically - God has blessed us and set my feet in a wide place. I am very thankful. We love our church, the kids are in a wonderful school, I am very thankful for and committed to my job (even in this economy I've had 2 attractive opportunities come my way in the last month but I'm not going anywhere). Just refinanced the house, so we're committed to it for a while too. I'm talking about where we're going spiritually, and financially, and relationally. Who are we becoming?

Have a number of close friends also in transition. For some of them, like me, the transition is internal. For some an actual move to a new job, new town, new friends (hopefully also keeping the old ones like me), even a new country. Either way, it feels like we are creating the way forward as we go. At times it all seems so uncertain.

Somehow I woke up wide awake very very early today. Cup of coffee, reading about Jesus in John 14. He has just finished the Passover Meal with his disciples, the most celebrated moment of the most important holiday of the year. They don't know it yet, but their eldest brother is saying his goodbyes. He is receiving a promotion, so to speak, moving forward to his destiny. He knows they will not be together again like this for a long long time. And in these intimate moments Jesus words give strength and direction.

I go to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you with me. You know the way.

Jesus words are alive for me this morning, alive for us today. You know the way. He has prepared a place for you. You know the way. He will steer you forward. You know the way. Not something to be created by us at all, simply following him. Moving forward into the place he has already prepared. He will bring you there. You know the way. It's not a mystery, really not hard at all. Your eldest brother has already gone before you, prepared a place, and will bring you there. When we are lead by the Holy Spirit (keep reading John 14) we are lead into the place he has already prepared for us.

This time of transition is not uncertain at all. Keep moving forward. You know the way.