I Fell Off The Trail

The terminology is different----the idea is almost exactly the same.

I have always believed in a form of divine destiny. In my view, there is a prescribed trajectory for each of us…sort of a beaten path that the Almighty would like for us to follow. If we are contrite, look for clues and prayerfully move forward, we can stay inside the navigational buoys. I’ve held to this belief for most of my life.

At the Murphysboro United Methodist Church, they believe the same thing------just with a slightly different metaphor. The pastor and the congregation have adopted a metaphor of taking a spiritual walk along “a trail.” I was introduced to “the trail” on a recent Sunday afternoon. The story leading up to my discovery of the trail is even more interesting.

I haven’t had good experiences in church leadership. Often, I find myself pushed into leadership positions that require conflict resolution and hard decisions. I do that kind of work for a living, so most people think I enjoy it. But they don’t realize I go to church to find peace----not a replication of my career course.

The pattern at three United Methodist Churches was thus-----first I offer to teach a Sunday School class----then I am asked to be on a committee----then I am asked to chair the committee-----and ultimately there are hard decisions that require my career skills. The most recent evidence of this pattern came in Texas where I taught the class, was asked to serve on the church’s pastor-parish relations committee and watched as the chair of that committee resigned at my first meeting. Immediately, eyes turned my way and I was drafted into leadership. That required my involvement in a pastoral change. It was not fun.

So, when Carol and I landed in Murphysboro, I told her-----no teaching, no volunteering……We would sit in the back of the church and not make eye contact with the parishioners. I had spoken.

As I have settled into my new job, the transition has been difficult at times.

During the holiday break, I sat and thought through my day job and decided to commit to paper the things I needed to accomplish during the spring semester. I shared the goals with my wife, who gave a disapproving look.

“What?” I asked.

“You have nothing about any kind of spiritual commitment in your goals,” Carol said as he handed back the paper. “Don’t you think it’s time you did something at church?”

I agreed to add a line about my need to get in touch with my spiritual needs. She seemed satisfied.

The next week, the pastor’s wife approached me during the greeting segment of the service. I dutifully made eye contact. She asked if she could have my e-mail address so she could invite me to a group called “Discerning Our Directions,” (DOD) a discipleship group that was working on a continuing metaphor called “The Trail.”

I pulled out a business card….One week later I was invited to the DOD group. The timing of the invitation was eerie.

As I sat there at my first meeting, it all became incredibly obvious to me what had happened.

I denied any involvement in the life of the church. That was a right turn….when God was proposing a left turn. I had fallen off the trail. I was not in touch with my divine destiny.

At the same time I was coming to the realization, I was making real progress in other areas of my life. The job was starting to gain focus….I was making healthier choices with my food and exercise.

It was all coming together.

And it all started with a frown from my wife.

Listen to the people around you. Look for clues….

I’m trying real hard to get back on the trail.

Because I know everything else will come into focus if I do. It is a metaphor that works for me.

Maybe you should consider it.