Some things come to pass, not to stay
image from Dreamstime
John Southwood and I led 6 people on a month-long mission trip to Penasco, a small town close to Taos. Two of us rode bikes, four rode in the van. The many abandoned old homes along the Arizona roadside grabbed my attention. Made of stone or blocks or wood. Many with missing roofs, all deserted. People built them, lived in them, worked to scrape out a life in the blazing desert, only to leave them. So why did they take off?
“Arizona Desert Road”
Dreams
scattered, shattered along the way
faded into desert shades of gray
green-gray Hudson rusting
without doors
brown-gray shacks
of cracked, dried wood
one—walls fallen to the floor
another—the top of the front wall whitewashed
the unfinished bottom merely weathered
magic carpets
tickets to distant promises
unused
shelters from storms
containers for love
unused and unadorned
Dreams seem to have died
or
fulfilling their purpose
have dreams merely moved
farther along?
I’ve often shared Mom’s take on a Bible verse, “It came to pass, it didn’t come to stay.” A Facebook friend commented, “I want to rejoice that I had it, not mourn that it’s gone.” Life comes in seasons—and seasons change. Summer ends well before my wife desires, and when I skied, spring came too soon.
We can’t maintain all the friendships we’ve made—some move away, or work changes, or we grow apart. That gives space to make new ones. A key couple in the Life Group I lead said they wanted to get to know more people in the church and would go to a new group. Upon arriving the first week, she exclaimed, “This is the perfect group for me,” and I felt a little bad until she finished, “…I don’t know anyone there.” I loved that!
Changes benefit us imperfect people who live in an imperfect world. Resisting change means we see no reason to grow. That we’re content when something better requires that we move on. Doesn’t God desire to see us continue to grow in Christlikeness? In spiritual maturity? In deeper relationships? To learn some ministry tasks to prepare us for something more significant or impactful?
What a boring life to stay at the same place and level and to not take new steps that require we trust God more deeply. Up until 30 I worked in the secular world, and enjoyed it. Then God nudged me into pastoral ministry, and I enjoyed it. After 20 years He closed and opened doors to get me into writing books, which I enjoy, but I would never have done that without ministry as a foundation.
Of course, not all changes are good or godly. Avoid those. But listen to His nudges…to something He’s been preparing you for.
Kick Starting the Application
Have you thought of your life having seasons—temporary states to get you ready for something better? Do you find it hard to get past the past? How can you focus more on God’s next steps?