Abandoning Outcomes & Ernesto
Ernesto is a wash. Sure, the media blitzed him and made him into a formidable opponent, but when it came right down to it it looks like he’ll just slosh all over us, but not much more. It’s rainy now, but news reports lead us to now highly doubt the outcome that was foretold. Which leads me to a thought I’ve been mulling over . . .
Dallas Willard (Renovation of the Soul) talks about “abandoning outcomes”; of doing our part but leaving the outcome in higher hands. In chatting with a friend yesterday he expressed concern that that might leave us goal-less - “an unaimed arrow always hits the target”. In other words, it got me thinking about our role in goal-setting. How much is in our hands, and how much out of it? I think back to our chasing daylight groups this Spring and Jonathon’s plan . . . “Let’s go on up there . . . Perhaps the Lord will help!”
This seems to be the radical middle to me . . . How many times, in abandoning outcomes, do we end up doing nothing? Like Jonathon it seems we are given opportunities to step out, (”Let’s go out there”) but often without guarantees on the outcome (”Perhaps the Lord will help”). This involves trust, risk, faith, adventure . . .
Let us go on up there abandoning outcomes and holding to faith, hope and love . . . Perhaps the Lord will help!
September 4th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
You’ve got a smart friend there!
Its amazing how often in Scripture we see this tension between people making plans and God bringing about the results. They range from Shadrack and friends to the first church counsel.
Perhaps the point from Scripture (which is what I think you were getting at) is that we should make plans that we believe, in faith, is the direction that God wants us to take while remaining flexible that He may respond differently than we expect.
September 6th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Good point. Man makes his plans, but God directs his steps is something I think I’m living right now. I’ve seen recently that God tells me go in a certain direction, not because God has for me what I think He wants from my going there, but it’s something else entirely. I’m in the midst of seeking direction again, right now (and growing in the process), and I seem to keep getting answers pointing to the future. Think God is telling me something like focus on Him and growing the Kingdom in this world and my own little kingdom that is me.
Maybe that is the only direction with which I need to be concerned.
September 7th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Thanks Phil - Yes, we follow Him, and abandon our thoughts of what needs to happen to be “right”. He becomes our goal!! Thanks for the comment!
Hey Wes - thanks for checking in. Sounds like we are learning similar lessons! Have linked you from my blog also - I find what you are writing interesting!
Cheers
mark