A few weeks ago I encouraged you to think about leading. I closed by reminding you that even leaders follow, and who they follow determines how their journey will progress. As I think about leading our Worship Ministry at North-Mar into a new, uncharted season I am thinking much about following.
In the midst of that thinking, across the horizon floated the following story from Methodist missionary and theologian E. Stanley Jones.
He told of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail vanished. Eventually, stumbling on a small hut, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out of the jungle. The native happily agreed and rising to his feet, walked directly into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way through a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried: “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see a path.” The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.” (Bwana is a form of respectful address in some parts of Africa.)
This story was very reassuring to me because as I am formulating plans for the fall I keep going back to Jesus for clear direction in every decision, from song selection and personnel training to equipment purchases and scheduling. Each time I am essentially asking Jesus, “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see a path.” He has faithfully said to me, in not so many words, “In this place there is no path. I am the path.”
We all know that Jesus has declared Himself to be “the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14.6) This is not a foreign concept to us. All the same, we tend to complicate our following with any number of excuses or questions.
North-Mar is in uncharted territory. We are entering a new season on ministry on the heels of baptizing over 180 people in a period of seven weeks. God is leading us through things we have never experienced before now.
Our worship ministry is a microcosm of the church. This is a new era. You can hear it, see it and feel it. I find myself near the front of it searching for the path. Jesus is reassuring me that He is the Path.
Come along with me on this adventure and let us discover His path, rather Him, together.
Jesus, help us to follow well, ever keeping our eyes on You for You are the Path. When other tour guides would beckon to us to lead us astray, help us to fix our gaze on You. We will follow You!
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy
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