Traces

The pursuit of my vision for life and ministry sometimes is clearer than other times. Life brings a fog that obfuscates that vision. The fog is somewhat intermittent, sometimes being thick as pea soup, other times wispy, clear enough to see some images, then sometimes bright and clear with no obstructions. Pursuing that vision requires passion. Passion comes from an enigmatic stirring of the soul for what satisfies deeply and gives meaning to life. I’ve figured out, there are three interlocking pieces to this puzzle; vision, passion and time. Vision requires passion, and passion takes time.

Without passion to pursue the vision, (remembering the clarity of vision can go in and out of the fog), the vision would be lost. Passion takes time to perfect. Time is the crucible that forms the passion and gives clarity to the passion to relentlessly pursue the vision.

One of the ways I’ve found to stay on track, when the fog descends, is by searching out the traces of God in my life. There are numerous meanings and uses for the word trace. Consider for now, these dictionary concepts encased in the word. ”A visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of a person; an indication that something has been present; follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; make one’s course of travel along a path.” Traces are those pathways that demonstrate the presence of God for us. Just as animals leave paths as evidence of their presence, so God has traceable paths to remind us of his presence.

In fact, Scripture tells us to pursue paths ourselves to create habitable traces. (Those traces become markers to point our offspring to a permanent presence, even after we’re gone. This is legacy.) “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” Ps 84:5 God’s advice to Israel through Jeremiah, was, “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”

Jer 6:16

I like the way song writer Babbie Mason expressed this truth in her song, “Trust His Heart.” The chorus of the song teaches us, then admonishes us…

“God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don’t understand

When you don’t see His plan

When you can’t trace His hand

Trust His Heart”

Recently I’ve been contemplating the traces of God in my life. I’ve discovered when I trace his hand but have trouble finding it, I’m challenged to rely on his heart, as the scriptures faithfully teach us. That’s when I find rest for my soul, as Jeremiah promised.

I’m sure I’ll go through the rest of my life pursuing my vision. I’m passionate about it. I accept there will be times of intermittent fog. Yet, in the thickest of fogs, when I can’t trace his hand, I know his heart can be trusted.