Bring Everyone Along: The Right Way

by Lisa Allgood, Executive Presbyter

“Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, He will still be with you to teach you. You will see your Teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear Him.     Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”                                                                             – Isaiah 30:21-22 NLT

I once had a person who reported to me who had two signs, one on each of his desk drawers – the one on the top drawer said “things Tim will solve”, and the one on the bottom drawer said “things Time will solve”.

Of course, we all chuckled at what in truth was a pretty funny way to get out of ever doing the administrative work he hated. But over time (pun intended!) I realized what a profound statement that was.

Because each of us has to make choices about why we do what we do.  About what drives us.  All the times, decision by decision, act by act. And ultimately that shows where our priorities lie.

Do our acts reflect our focus on the secular world, and the way it judges success and influence? Or do our acts focus on the eternal?

Are we pandering to the make-believe world of Instagram?  Do our opinions and words and actions reflect the world around us? Or are we listening to the Word and obeying, as best fragile, feeble, fearful, humans can?

Thomas Merton said “I have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture has values that have no concern for the soul.”

Are we spending our time focused on comfort? Or on the Eternal?

Only one honors and leads to Life.

I believe I know on which way – which path – the Voice would tell us to focus. Bring Everyone Along on that path.