Journeying

All was not plain sailing for the journeying Abraham, as he had to leave Canaan and stay for a time in Egypt, as told in Genesis 12:10-20: Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe…

A familiar story tells of an old Scotsman who operated a rowing boat to transport passengers. On one oar he had written the word Faith, while the other bore the word Works. The point of the story, of course, is that pulling on either oar alone would simply make one go around and around in circles. Both oars must be used to make any progress at all.

Abraham was indeed a man of faith but he expressed his devotion in terms of putting his faith in God into action. Rev’d Joy Dine, a Methodist Minister wrote these helpful words about a our active journey of faith.

God who sets us on a journey
to discover, dream and grow,
lead us as you led your people
in the desert long ago;
journey inward, journey outward,
stir the spirit, stretch the mind,
love for God and self and neighbour
marks the way that Christ defined.

Exploration brings new insights,
changes, choices we must face;
give us wisdom in deciding,
mindful always of your grace;
should we stumble, lose our bearings,
find it hard to know what’s right,
we regain our true direction
focused on the Jesus light.

End our longing for the old days,
grant the vision that we lack –
once we’ve started on this journey
there can be no turning back;
let us travel light, discarding
excess baggage from our past,
cherish only what’s essential,
choosing treasure that will last.

When we set up camp and settle
to avoid love’s risk and pain,
you disturb complacent comfort,
pull the tent pegs up again;
keep us travelling in the knowledge
you are always at our side;
give us courage for the journey,
Christ our goal and Christ our guide.

Words: Joy Dine (1937 – 2001) © Revd Mervyn Dine.