Friends by Faith
"By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." -Hebrews 11:8
I hate this verse. I have hated this verse long before it was every prayed over me as an individual, over Rich and I as a couple, or as, now, a little family. When I read it for the first time, my natural inclination shouted, "Well, that's stupid. How do you go anywhere without knowing where you're going?" Rich and I are famous for getting in the car, pulling out of the driveway, getting on the highway, and having no idea how to actually get to our destination. We just figure that we'll figure it out along the way. After seven years of traveling meltdowns, screaming matches and blame shifting, you would think we would learn to just plug the darn destination into the GPS BEFORE we leave. Nope. We must be gluttons for punishment.
We have friends who are uh-mazing people. We love their little family, with their three beautiful children and are so glad we've been able to watch how they follow God as a family. For as long as we've known them, they have been obedient before ever knowing how they will get to their destination- or even, what they're destination is. This type of faith has brought them all over the country- and even, the world. They believe they hear something from the Lord, and they make plans to go- even if it looks sometimes, to us faithless people, a little like Noah building an Ark before any sign of rain. They're not the only ones- it seems, God has surrounded our family with those of people who live out this crazy idea on a daily basis. Obey and go first, find out where you're going (literally and figuratively) later. It lead some to Belfast, some to Philadelphia, some to Oregon (eventually), and has lead others here from other places like England and Brazil. For some it's lead to grand-scale career changes, an addition to their family through conception or adoption, a shift in theology, a passion for activism in social justice, a deeper emphasis on community in their own neighborhoods. All of them are heroes in faith to us.
I hate this verse. But I want to like it. In fact, I want to looooooove it. I want to, more and more, live out this faith like Abraham. I'm sure a part of him was scared- move his WHOLE family? Just pick up, ALL of them, and start walking? But his fear wasn't greater than his faith. Neither is that of our friends. Whether they feel like it sometimes or not, all of their examples have been life giving to us. We get to rejoice with them in what God is doing, and how he is doing it through them. Their Abraham-like walks of faith serve as daily reminders to us of the people we have chosen to live life with- people whose faith, when it comes down to it, is bigger than their fears, because our God is the biggest of all.
Thank you to all of you who have allowed us to walk with you- though you may be far from us! Know your decision emboldens us as a family, encourages us to continue pursuing truth and reminds us that through Christ, all things are possible.
By the way, we always get there. Rich and I. Without directions. And we're never late. A little flustered, but never late.