Guided to where we never expected to go (Proverbs 16:9)
The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.
–Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV)
Because this is my first ever Air Force deployment, I was not sure what to expect. Before leaving home I spent a lot of time talking to people who had served overseas in the past. There were lots of questions, ranging from what I should bring to the preparations necessary to assure my family was taken care of. In addition to all the conversations, a lot of time was spent reading books, blog posts, checklists, and articles.
Eventually I made contact with a handful of individuals who had been to my specific location in the recent past. These proved to be the most valuable interactions of all. They helped me refine my packing list and made the first few weeks here easier than they would have been otherwise.
Keeping expectations in check
Of course, I knew that no matter how many conversations I had or questions I asked, there would be no way to prepare myself for everything that I would encounter while on deployment. Repeatedly, I was advised that every single deployment was different. One person’s experience would not be the same as someone else in the same unit on the same rotation. There was no way to become an expert beforehand. Surprises were inevitable. Throughout the run-up process, my goal was to be a little more ready and to make slightly fewer rookie mistakes.
This reminder to come into a deployment with an open mind has proven to be the single most valuable thing I was told. In the short period of time that I have been in theater we have experienced situations that we never expected. Although things have gone smoothly overall, life in a combat means zone means that challenges consistently arise which require our teams to adapt in a multitude of ways. Plans that were created with particular scenarios in mind are constantly being rewritten to account for changing needs and resources.
True here and true at home
The wisdom offered by those who told me to be willing to be surprised is just as valuable to service members in deployed locations as it is at home. While it is important to have goals, it is even more important to hold those dreams loosely. Throughout my ministry I have never met anyone whose life turned out just as they expected. There are always roadblocks, interruptions, and serendipitous blessings along the way.
Tying ourselves too closely to the plans that we establish sets us up for disappointment. We can map out the path to our destination only to find out that God has another plan in store for us. It has been my experience that God’s design for our lives is far more meaningful than anything our imagination can conjure on its own.
Even though I needed reminding during pre-deployment process, this bit of wisdom is nothing new. The ancients knew the danger of clinging too closely to self-imposed goals that are far too small. In Proverbs 16:9 the writer reminded the Hebrew people that no matter what plans they had mapped out in our own minds, God was ultimately in charge. They were not.
The truth of the matter is that we aren’t either.
Guided by the Holy Spirit
Jesus told his disciples that this reality is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, it is better that we are not in charge. We simply do not have the vantage point to see exactly where we are going. Cartographers know that every map is a compromise. No matter how detailed our maps, there are always features that get left off. Road construction and detours will take us places that we do not want to go. The good news is that we are not making this journey alone, even after ending up lost in a location we did not choose.
Before his death, Jesus told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would be their guide once he had ascended. This advocate would lead them though a world that was hostile to the gospel. They would be shown how to reach the kingdom of God. Eventually they were led throughout the Roman Empire proclaiming the message of forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
What was true for Christ’s earliest followers is true for us as well. We do not have to know every step of the journey. This deployment has confirmed for me that surprises and challenges will inevitably arise. The good news is that our expectations do not have to be our limitations. Clinging desperately only to what we know prevents us from stepping out in faith.
My prayer is that we will be always willing to be surprised by God’s grace even when challenges arise and our plans prove inadequate. Every time we map out our lives, the Holy Spirit will inevitably show up and point us in a new direction. As disciples, Jesus calls us to follow him wherever he may lead.
OPSEC/Air Force disclaimers:
While sharing some particular moments from my government sponsored camping trip, I need to mention a concept that the Air Force refers to as OPSEC, or operational security. Essentially, it is a modern way of saying “loose lips sink ships.” Travel dates, my location, and the details of what I am doing are all going to remain unsaid in this forum and on social media. Instead, I am going to occasionally share generalized “day in the life of a chaplain” posts that are produced in conversation with our unit’s public affairs folks. Please understand if there are certain questions or topics that I refrain from discussing in this particular setting.
This blog is produced on my own time using personal equipment. No Air Force or DOD endorsement is implied.
