Hiding in Plain Sight

Hiding in plain sight is an art of camouflage and avoiding attention. You have to be aware of your surroundings and make conscious decisions in your appearance and actions in order to blend in and effectively hide. Over time though this can become second nature. If you focus on blending in you can become virtually invisible. There are times this is very important. It is very important for a mouse to blend into its surroundings unless it wants to be an owl's meal. It is also important for a soldier to blend into his surroundings as he moves so he can hide from the enemy. Sometimes we as followers of Jesus Christ hide in plain sight, and it's not always a good thing.

Fighting Traditions

Traditions are amazing things. They bring comfort when times are tumultuous. They bring people together when nothing else will. We find joy in them with some ceremonies and rituals. We even find identity with some. I like traditions. I think of all the places in my life where I have been surrounded by traditions; growing up in New England, scouting, volunteer fire department, the Navy. I think the place that is steeped in the most tradition though is the church.

God's Will For Your Life

Vocational ministers or professional clergy get to hear questions from people that are not normally asked in casual conversation. The questions change a little bit depending on the role; pastor, chaplain, evangelist, or missionary. The questions, however, are consistent in large part. One of the common questions is "What is God's will for my life?" I heard it often as a youth pastor and I thought it would diminish as I transitioned to ministering to adults predominantly. It hasn't. People's thoughts of their lives and God's plan and purpose for them seem to transcend generations. The part that is interesting to me and my subject today is not specifically God's will for your life, or you knowing that will, but your motivation in wanting to know it.