I’ve begun reading a new-to-me book, Walk Across America, which relates a young man’s quest to ‘find’ himself and his country in a time of nationwide youthful angst and confusion. With just a backpack and his adventure-loving dog, he set out on a journey of discovery which included unforeseen situations requiring quick thinking, ingenuity, help from total strangers, and more than a few miracles. His was not a path choice easily explained to others.
This adventure story has me picturing my own, which has lots of twists and turns that were made, not by me, but seemingly for me. They were developments that were God’s provision, God’s Plan ‘A’ being worked out, with me just along for the ride. Even the choices I made on my own were, in hindsight, clearly directed by God’s faithful and loving hand. And I’m thankful!
If we consider the young Bethlehemite, David, son of Jesse, a similar motif emerges. Like an extended military Boot Camp, his years living out on hillsides, in charge of his father’s sheep, were potently formative. The sheep needed intensive care, continual oversight, and constant protection, both from themselves and from predators, which were in abundance. More than once, David had to rescue his sheep from the jaws of a hungry lion or bear, killing both. He learned to ‘sleep with one eye open,’ ever watchful for the next attack. Resourcefulness was a great necessity out there by himself. Later, after hearing the Philistines’ shameless taunting of God and the Israelite army and viewing the shrinking terror on the faces of the Israelite army, David’s fearlessness rose up to win the day.
Maybe it was to keep himself calm and centered that he wrote poems and then composed melodies that were his own. Maybe he noticed the calming effect his music had on the sheep and on his own lonely soul. Maybe he sensed the pleasure and presence of God in his music. Later, in the courts of King Saul his music soothed the king’s tortured spirit.
At the time of David’s anointing by the prophet Samuel, none of the days and years ahead of him were known. None of the rejections, betrayals, or murderous threats were yet revealed. None of the warring challenges, the temptations, the handling of great power, were foreseen. None of the distractions away from his first love could even have been imagined. But in those early training fields, with the sheep, life lessons were learned that would guide the rest of his life. Later, he would be guided by the same learned principles of loving faithfulness to his father and his Father.
Pre-planned? Nope, but all in God’s will for him. May we be as ready, willing, able – and available! PD