This past week my wife and I found out that we will be having a little girl! The weeks of anticipation, nerves, and excitement came to an end with three little words, “It’s a girl.” Don’t get me wrong, boy or girl, it is a bit scary to think of having the responsibility of raising a child, but there is something settling about knowing what the gender of the child will be. It gives me a sense of security and control. I can totally rest because I know our child is a she…no more worries, right? Not in the real world. I have found that what I thought would give me complete rest – knowing if I would be taking our child fishing or to a dance recital, to watch a game or to a play, to wrestle with or cuddle with — has actually made me want to know more. Will she be active (I am inclined to say yes based on how much she moves around) or in-active? Extrovert or introvert? A princess or a tomboy? Will she be rude or kind? Will she love Jesus or not? These questions flood my mind even as I write this post. I always want to know just a bit more. How is my little girl going to turn out?
As Open House has started I find myself in the same cycle of asking the unknown. I thought that once we had our first gathering I would know what to expect in the future. Yet in my mind I ask the questions that begs for just a bit more knowledge and understanding. What will we become? How many people will be there? Are we a failure if only eight show up? How can we do Open House in the best possible way? How is Open House going to turn out?
The comfort of having all of the answers to the questions we most want answered don’t always bring what we expect. Answered questions tend to bring more questions than we want answered. Much like a two-year old that follows every answer that you give with a “why?” I am reminded of Paul’s encouragement to the Christians in Rome:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
We live in a world where we are told that knowledge is power…because knowledge is power. When we know, we are in control…no surprises, no adventure, no trust, no hope needed. The Bible paints a very different picture of approaching life. We have the choice to be freed from the worry of what might or might not be, we are released from having to know all of the details, we no longer have to be a captive of the uncertainties tomorrow brings. We can choose to go against the grain of conformity and accept Jesus’ invitation; an invitation into a different kind of knowledge. One that is rooted in the “Who?” and not in the “What?” That invitation has power. The power to take the worries of a newborn child, or a new gathering of Christians and all the uncertainties they can bring and change them into an adventure with many surprises along the way. Looking to “know the One” who is there with us every step of the way.
