Take a minute… turn up your speakers… press play… close your eyes and, if willing, just sing along.
You know there’s something about getting odd looks at the red light as you belt alongside Idina Menzel.
#ProudDad #Musicals #CantSingButTry
Anyways…
Here recently I have continued to navigate various aspects of life… children who are growing and maturing, growth & changes at work, finding time to pick up the pen and write… not to mention the list of things at the house and projects I want to tackle. The never ending & unknown list of things…
🎶Into the unknown 🎶
- The constant battle of “balance” and figuring out what is important right now.
- The tension of “move quick and break things” vs. “take a moment to think through everything“.
- To lead from the front OR support from behind… can it be both?
A few months back I was talking with a mentor of mine and he subtly reminded me “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.“. That we don’t have to know all the plans, all the steps, and what the future may bring.
I took a minute to reflect on that and then started seeing that theme become evident in the Bible:
- Moses self-proclaimed to God that he didn’t speak well so God instructed him to bring along his brother Aaron.
- David was out in the field while his brothers were being reviewed by Samuel for the future king of Israel and Samuel didn’t have peace until he saw David.
- Jesus chose fishermen and a tax collector to be the ones who’d lead His church.
- Joseph was hated by his brothers, thrown in a well, and eventually turned to being the leader of nations.
One step at a time
For a few months now I’ve had this mental image of a tattoo where it’s two footprints… the first footprint is outlined & clear – as if following someone on the beach and you can just step into their impression that is left right in front of you. The second, however, is not clear – you know that logically it should come after the first, but you can’t yet see it.
Hmm… Do you wait for it to be clear before you take the first step? Or… do you take the first and then wait to figure out the second?
Reminds me of the Indiana Jones “Leap of Faith” scene in the Last Crusade.
But… there must be a solution
One of the challenges with being an Engineer is the trap of always thinking there is a logical solution. That if I can just permeate through all the possible outcomes or use ChatGPT enough… I’ll come up with an acceptable solution.
From my perspective, reality proves that not to be true.
- You can’t predict when your kid headbutts a see-saw and needs stiches.
- You can’t predict when someone decides to leave at work for unknown reasons.
- You can’t predict when a customer loses various budget and no longer can support a given project.
- You can’t predict when you’re heading down the road and ahead of you there is someone driving the wrong way.
You can’t predict a lot of things BUT you can control how much effort you put into trying.
My world view
From my view, I believe that there is a God and that He is in control. I know that isn’t everyone’s view and I’m comfortable with that.
My current conclusion is that when I’m following Him, there needs to be room in the equation for faith. Where you end up taking a step because you know that’s where He wants you to step.
You end up surrendering and trusting that He’s got you even if your millennial brain doesn’t understand it.
You accept that Man makes plans, but God guides their steps. (Pro. 16:9)
You have to accept that God puts people in places of authority & leadership. (Rom 13:1)
You have to trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)
So, I rhetorically ask – does what you’re doing require faith?
If not, consider praying “Lord open my eyes to where I need to trust you more. Guide my steps, as you say in the Proverbs, onto paths that require me to trust you more. Amen“
–Matt
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