What Comes Next?

            At this time of year, young people are graduating from school and moving on to new things.  Some people are also finishing internships J.  While graduation is a real accomplishment and is worth celebrating, there’s always that question hanging in the air: What comes next?

            This isn’t a question that only relates to graduation.  It is also a question that is asked by anybody who seeks to follow God’s call in their life.  What is God calling me to do next?  Where is God leading me?  What is God calling St. Luke’s Zion to do next?  What is the Spirit saying to the churches?

            In Acts 16, we read a story that describes how Paul and his companions figured out what to do next.  At one point, it seems like they had tried to go to Asia, but somehow the doors had closed, and they concluded that the Holy Spirit was sending them somewhere else.  So they ended up in Phrygia and Galatia for a while (v. 6).  Then, the same thing happened again, where they tried to go to Bithynia, but somehow their way was blocked (v. 7).  This time, they ended up in Troas.

            Then, while they are in Troas, Paul has a vision during the night.  In his vision, he sees a man from Macedonia pleading with him to come and help.  Thus, concluding that God had called them to go to Macedonia, this is where they go next (v. 9-10).  And they find there people who are ready and willing to hear the good news about Jesus.

            For us, we may not have visions like this that tell us what comes next.  However, the saying does hold true:  When a door closes, God opens a window.  For all who truly seek what God is calling them to do, the signs will be there.  This is not only true for those who set out as missionaries or for those who are called to ordained or diaconal ministry.  This is true for anybody who seeks God’s direction for their life.  So how does this direction happen?

            In some cases, we might pray for a sign and then see one.  In some cases, we might start down one path, have the way blocked, and end up heading down a different path.  In some cases, God uses other people in order to point us in a certain direction.  Sometimes, direction might happen through a dream, or through the Scriptures, or through a timely message.  In other cases, we might simply become aware of the gifts that God has given us and ask how those gifts might best be used.

            However, when we start talking about what comes next for a congregation, this involves multiple people praying and discerning and paying attention to the Holy Spirit.  Even more challenging these days is to get multiple people together at the same time and in the same place to pray and discern together!

            Currently there is an initiative called Acts of the MNO Synod that invites congregations to do just that, using Acts 16 as a starting point.  It is an invitation to think outside the box, and to ask what experiments we might try, and to seek God’s direction as to what comes next.  This is a question that I continue to wrestle with, and I invite any who are interested and able to wrestle along with me!  How can we grow in our ability to share God’s love with all people?

                        In Christ,

                        Pastor Lynne Hutchison