waiting...

Some times I make a good decision because I know what I'm doing.

Other times I kind of stumble into it. But I suppose one form of wisdom is at least recognizing the latter situation when it is happening.

I would have liked to start 2010 with a grand new vision for the new year. I would have loved to blog on Jan. 1 and layout personal or ministry goals, but I had nothin'. Nor has it come. Folks would ask me what exiting plans I had for the new year and I would just answer with an impressive, "Ummmm...."

Now here's the bit of wisdom I've kind of backed into. There's a part of me that wanted to "whomp up" such plans (to quote an old friend). Frankly, I was just too exhausted after a glorious Advent/Christmas and a week of family gatherings around my uncle's death. And what I have stumbled into is the biblical principle of waiting on the Lord.

Ideally, I would have done this out of wisdom or maturity on my part, but I'll take what I can get, even accidental godliness! :)

And what has happened in these three weeks of kind of laying low and listening quietly?

God has brought several new people into my life and the life of my congregation. These are folks with a keen and special calling to missional ministry. Through various means and people, they have connected with me and our congregation because of the kind of lighthouse/searchlight ministry we've been doing. I also got to see several of our elders plug into a presbytery-wide training event and share what we've been doing in that context.

All that has been encouraging and also reminded me that I do not bear sole responsibility for "firing the lighthouse." In fact, as I reflect on the metaphor and the calling, I realize that one real point of growth will be when others in the church not only understand but initiate lighthouse/searchlight ministry on their own. Sometimes - like now - I think the only way to give space to that kind of growth is to wait on the Lord.

So, intentional or not, I'm trying to pay attention as I go, to what God has already spoken in His Word:

The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:22–26)