Light for the Path. One Step at a Time.

In case it’s not obvious, I want to clarify that the name of this blog, “Light for the Path”, in no way indicates that I have light or great wisdom to shed on anyone’s path! Rather it is a reminder of my desperate need for God’s light and guidance on my journey. Yes, I am an “experienced” (code-speak for “been here a long time and am growing older”) missionary, but that doesn’t exempt me from needing God’s direction for each step!

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” It doesn’t say that his word is a spotlight shining far ahead or a row of streetlights illuminating the entire area. It’s a lamp “to my feet”. Right there. Just far enough ahead to know where to take the next step.

My family and I live in a small village in Africa which, until just last month, has had no electrical power. Our house is set-up with solar power as was our teammates’ house, but everywhere else is dark from 7pm until dawn and people move around with lamps or flashlights. With no city or yard lights, the moon plays a much bigger role in people’s lives. When there is a full moon, you can actually see your shadow. People move around the village, kids stay up late to play outside, and there are just generally more people outside. On the flip side, when it is a new moon, it is dark. And I do mean DARK. On occasion, I’ve had the experience of walking home at night only to have my flashlight batteries die. You can’t see anything! Including your feet or the path! It’s like taking one of those cave tours where they turn out the lights and it becomes completely black. One time I nearly collided with someone walking towards me on the path. I didn’t see him at all, but I sure jumped when he called out, “Windi e! (Good Evening!)”about two feet in front of me!

Light is good! So is God’s guidance, but sometimes we don’t recognize our need for it. Sometimes we move along fairly easily in our lives, like walking on a well-lit street.  And then there are those times where the way is unclear and we’re quicker to recognize our need for light and direction. Recently, I find myself in one of those unclear places and I am reminded to seek God’s light for my path, not just figure out my own way.

One of my favorite Bible passages is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Twenty years ago, my husband and I, with our infant daughter, decided to trust the LORD and follow his call to Africa to help translate His Word for people who didn’t have it. It was one of those major life decisions, right up there with who to marry and what career to pursue. Those are the kind of decisions where you seek God in prayer, search His Word, and ask the advice of trusted, mature Christians. In our case, God answered and clearly led us to the Oroko people in SW Cameroon to do translation and linguistics. Now, 20 years later, the translation of the New Testament is almost complete, literacy work is underway, and the church is slowly growing. It’s been an adventure full of hard work, challenges, and fulfillment. There were a lot of minor decisions along the way where we needed God’s direction, but the overall goal was clear - translate God’s Word and help people to put it into practice.

Now, with my role in the translation work winding down, things are becoming more ambiguous and God is stirring up a restlessness within me. Change is coming and I think this restlessness is one step in preparing me for the change. We’re not sure what’s ahead - there are a lot of options. Helping with translation of the Old Testament?  Helping adapt the New Testament into other Oroko dialects? Working with the churches in the larger Oroko area? Becoming consultants on other translation projects? World Team leadership? All of these are possibilities, but they are still about two years away. Knowing how God has led in the past, I am content (so far) to know that change is coming and He will guide us through it.

In the meantime, before those two years are up, I’m less sure what God wants me to do NOW. Thinking that I finally have more time available to do discipleship and invest in others, especially the women at church, I’ve brainstormed a number of ideas. But, guess what? It’s not happening at all like I thought! At first, I thought the women just needed more encouragement or that I needed to try other approaches. But, as I’ve prayed about what God would have me do, I don’t think his plans look much like mine at all. He keeps opening other, unexpected doors. Instead of carrying out my initial goals, God seems to be telling me, “Just pray and be available.” I’ve protested and reminded him that I have more time now, lots of ideas, and I could really help the women, but he still seems to be telling me, “Wait. Be patient. I have something else in mind.” Okay, but what should I do? “Just pray and be available.” Really? Are we no longer necessary here then? “Hasn’t that been your goal all along?” Yes, but we’re not there yet! “Says who? Trust me.”

OK then. I guess I’ll wait. And pray. And keep asking God to light my path. I know what he wants me to do today. And I’m good with that.

       Excuse me - I gotta go. There’s a Sunday School teacher at the door wanting help preparing his lesson.