Blood Prints for Blue Prints

"He does not lay out a master blueprint for our lives." (p. 76)

 "And with loss, the temptation is to run to the past, like the Israelites in the desert. The uncertainty inherent in the journey to the Promised Land was too much to bear." (DJ, 77)

Nearly 30 years ago as a student, I remember hearing this quote (its paraphrased for sure because it has been a looong time) – “we know the uncertainty of the future by the reality of the past.”

With just a little amount of “looking back reflection” we can likely prove this theory true.

In most cases, our lives have taken some interesting and unexpected turns.

Regarding unexpected turns, one of my favorite lines from Chronicles of Narnia is in chapter 14 of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. When speaking to Aslan, the Christ figure in the story, Lucy asks, "Will you tell us how to get into your country from our world?" Aslan replies to her, "I shall be telling you all the time.” 

The tension of “not knowing” and yet “trusting” pounds into my mind and heart the experience of Faith. Sometimes it pushes me to confess like Thomas, “Lord, we don’t know the way.” In my confession I hear Christ proclaiming His gospel, “I am the way.”

 Sometimes when things really, really start spinning out of control I’ve asked, “Lord, why have you forsaken me?” In my question I hear Christ again proclaiming from the cross – “Into your hands (Father God) I commit my spirit.” I think it was Peter who wrote (I paraphrase) – Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful creator (like Christ on the cross) and continue to do good.

The uncertainty of the past and the future helps tune my ears to hear God’s promise that I can “take heart, for He has overcome the world. ” (John 16:33) Uncertainty for me heightens the awareness that life with God is a restless adventure of mystery and intrigue. Uncertainty reveals in a unique way Christ’s eternal promise that He “will never leave or forsake me” (Hebrews 13:5.)

Paul says “in Him we live and move and have our being.” Thanks Jesus for upholding and sustaining me by your word of power in all places and all times. Thanks for your eternal love that you demonstrate in this – while I was still a sinner and your enemy, you died for me. Yes, you did not give me a blue print; however you did give me your blood. Your body broken. Your life. And you indeed in good and bad circumstances, are constantly speaking faith, hope, and love at all cost to me and for me…..all the time. Thank you.