A Pondering Pilgrim in my dooryard

I re-read the opening post of another blog I follow, called "A Pondering Pilgrim." I'm related to the man that writes it, so I have a personal interest in his ponderings. I can't say that I agree with some of the conclusions he has reached over the last several months (because I don't), but I do understand his basic premise that what he believes about Christianity must be what he believes--not what others have told him or raised him to believe. Otherwise, it never takes root in him and becomes who he is. I don't mean this disrespectfully at all, Dan: Been there, done that. Bought the t-shirt, sent the postcard. Or so I thought.

What I've found is that Dan's journey of now (my journey of 23 years ago) is repeated whenever I think I've got life (and God) figured out. There's no doubt in my mind that I am now learning and/or re-learning to trust God to be who he says he is. Many of the people and things on which I have relied have been taken away--loved ones who've gone home to be with the Lord, impending loss of job (and lack of one to take its place), material goods damaged or destroyed, relationships damaged--and I am left with only (!) God. I am the Pondering Pilgrim in my dooryard.

Dan, my prayer for you is that you will take your experiences, thoughts, dreams, desires, hopes, expectations, successes, failures and needs to the One that can make all things word together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose, and let him make sense of your life. My prayer for me is that I will do the same. Then, as we rest in the knowledge of our Lord, let us tell transgressors his ways, and share with them the bounty of his blessings to those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

The BCS Class of 1988 had Nahum 1:7 as its verse: "The LORD is good; a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."

I say, Amen and amen. I did not get the job in South Carolina. They sent me a message by e-mail thanking me for participating in the first two rounds of interviews, and expressing their enjoyment of the first interview, in particular. I, in turn, wrote and thanked them for considering me and expressed my disappointment at not being able to join their school family. I also said that I trusted that God has something...else for me. I nearly said something "better," but in my disappointment I did not want to be discourteous. Truly, the Lord must have something better in mind than that, because he promises to work out all for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. According to HIS purpose. Not according to mine.

The Lord IS good. He IS a refuge for those who trust in him. That is where I want to be.

Second round done

The second interview was conducted by phone about ten days ago. it went all right, but was nothing outstanding--phone interviews are very tough to gauge, anyway. Was supposed to hear something by Sept. 3, but nothing yet...