ROAD TRIP

When Judy and I took our first road trip vacation together we had very different philosophies on planning the trip. I’m a bit more of an explorer that often likes to fly wherever the wind blows. I see an interesting path or road and I’m ready to blaze a new trail. Judy on the other hand is very structured. You plan for everything, EVERYTHING! Our first road trip was very interesting and challenging for me. She planned the packing for every possible situation that might occur, drive times were planned, hotels were booked along the planned route. When we reached a destination, activities had been planned in advance. Who, when, where and what were carefully choreographed. Then while we were in South Carolina heading North, I saw an interesting sign pointing to a less traveled road and my longing to be free disrupted the well-planned vacation. Trust me, I said, we’ll have a great time being free of the schedule.

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ... Take nothing for the journey” (Lk 9:1-3). Trust in God’s providential care can be a challenge for many of us. Yet this is exactly what Jesus expecting and wanted his disciples to experience when sending them out to heal and preach. He was also sending them out so they could learn, experience and rely on God for all of their needs.

The psalmist asks for two things “put falsehood and lying far from me” and “provide me only with the food I need” (Prv 30:7-8). To experience the freedom of a trusting relationship, I am a firm believer in that we all would be far better off if truth and need are our focus. How much better would our relationships be with our brothers and sisters be, at home, at work, even in church if we put falsehood and lying far from us? How much better would our health be if we consumed only what we need? How much better would the world be if we all consumed only what was needed? Trusting in God’s care, the earth does produce enough to feed all his children, it is the distribution that causes the imbalance.

Trust completely in God, “Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.” (Prv 30:6) We are incapable to care for ourselves, strive as we may to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect, we all carrying the burdensome baggage of our sinfulness and we can do nothing to save ourselves. We only trust in Jesus’ promise of his Father’s love, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. The promise that He would always be with us.

The proof of this great love, rests here at the table of sacrifice. Each time we worship and approach this table, we become full participants in Jesus’ self-offering. Where he willingly endured suffering, he willingly took on the sin of the world, so that we would trust His Father to free us from our brokenness and draw all his children back to himself.