Safer Than A Known Way

Many years ago I read a book by Pamela  Rosewell Moore, an extraordinary woman who in surrendering her life to God's plans eventually ended up helping smuggle Bibles into Russia and later served as companion to Corrie ten Boom.  In the book titled, "Safer than a Known Way," she quotes M.L. Haskins' opening lines from "The Gate of the Year."  Somehow those words seem appropriate for the start of a new year.

"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown!'

And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness
and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.'"

The poem is probably most famous for its use in the Christmas Day address in 1939 by King George VI of England.  It was troubling times for the nation, already at war with Germany and about to embark on a horror yet unknown.
What I didn't know until today was "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey might say ... or the remaining lines of the poem ...

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God

Trod gladly into the night

He led me towards the hills

And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!

What need our human life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

Both high and low,

God hideth his intention."

Thus seems a good place to start a new year.  I don't know about you, but I'm not too fond of ordinary, not too interested in mundane.  I'd like a year of adventure!  Yes, there is that part of me that asks for the light to illuminate the unknown, I say I would be content "if only I knew what was ahead" ... I say I'd follow His plan, "if He's just give me the details" ... but I know that's not true, give me the details and off I'll run on my own.  I don't REALLY want that!  The journey is oh so much better if He takes the lead and I skip along beside Him!  And, I've learned that that light is not for the long view ... it's not a spotlight on the entire surrounding, it's only enough for the next step. 

When we were in Africa this summer, my fear (read irrational fear!) of snakes was the only drawback to an amazing experience.  Granted there was the black mamba at the hospital, the puff adder on the road, the cobra at the orphanage, need I go on???  The last night there, Ruby and I set out for one last visit to the house mothers.  BUT, it was dark.  Dark + snakes = uh oh!!  I had my handy dandy headlamp ... but you know what, it didn't light that compound up like a runway!  It didn't even blaze a trail to the next house.  It simply gave me light for the next step, so one step at a time I had to watch (and buddy, I was watching ... and calling out to Ruby every other step .... "Hey, wait" ... "Slow down" ..."there are snakes out here!") and walk.  I think the same's true with God ... just one step's worth ... and then there's light for the next!  But, putting my hand safely in His, that's so much better than all the light in the world ... I can skip along at His side, confident in His sure footing, plan, and protection! 

But there's that protection word.  Dangit!  I want an adventure ... but yes, if i'm honest, I want safety as well.  I don't like skiing because I think to ski well you have to let yourself be a littel out of control and that's not so safe feeling to me.  Ironically, I like mountain biking, but hmmmm ... another story for another day!   I think we all love in The Chronicles of Narnia where Lucy is questioning the Beavers about Aslan.  "Is he safe?"  she asks.  "Safe?"  Mr. Beaver asks. "Who said anything about safe?  Course he isn't sade.  But he's good.  He's the king, I tell you!"  So, maybe let me revise, maybe walking hand in hand with God is not so much safe as it is right because He is good ... and no matter what happens, He's gonna be there.

I THINK I want to know ... but I really don't.  I don't think I'd have what it would take to make it if I knew the whole lot of what life holds.  Thankfully, God DOES ... and each step is part of what it takes to get us to the next!  Yes, I would love to know some of the things ahead ... the good things ... the husband and kid and family and job and fun things ... but I don't think I would want to know the illness or heartache or tragedy or even just the tough stuff that sits out there as well.  I heard Beth Moore talk about "delivery room grace" ... the grace we get when we need it!  SOOOO often we look at what someone is facing and think, "I could never do that!!"  You know, what, they've probably said that before, until that DR grace come in to meet the need when they have it and then they are able to take the next step, hand in hand with God, not with the light to see the end, but with the strength and security to get to the next place.  Today I don't have the grace or strength to meet the challenges 5, 10 or 15 years down the road!

I want my life to be an adventure.  I'm not a read ahead to the end of the book kind of girl (although I am a stay up all night so you can finish it kind!) ... I may want to zoom ahead to know what's next.  I might be curious as to a little plot summary some days, I might even want to read a review.  But for now, I think I'll let God take the lead and choose the path, I'll take this life one page at a time.  I'll slip my hand safely into His fingers and skip along at His side, confident of His love, knowing that He knows the way and ready to enjoy the adventure! 

And since it's the start of a new year and I have a marathon to run in a week ... I'm gonna get my butt off this couch and go for a run!  Happy New Year!!