“I seek to do not my own will

but the will of him who sent me.”

–John 5:30b

I got my answer.

Some of you may recall one of my first blog entries entitled “The Nudge.” That January post told of a trip Lori and I took to New Mexico in September of 2023. As part of that journey we visited The Community Pantry in Gallup, a long-time mission partner of the last congregation I served. We toured it fourteen months ago and later felt a clear tug from God to return.  We did so this February, joined by Lori’s brother and sister-in-law from Arizona.  It was a good week of packing food for the hungry of that county, yet it also planted another seed that bore fruit just last month.

On the winter trip, I was startled to see the condition of the hoop houses. Those five structures at the Pantry are designed to grow fresh produce year-round to supplement food donated by local grocery stores or provided through federal programs. Yet on that cold day eight months ago, the plastic roofing material of the five structures was in shreds. Damaged by high winds,  those houses could thus only grow food three months out of the year. With that discovery, I began to ponder.  

You should be aware that I have absolutely no construction skills myself.  I know the right end of the hammer to hold and am adept at tearing things apart, but building a wind-resistant roof is far beyond my expertise. Yet on that February day, I thought of an electrical engineer in my former pastorate who I knew could map out a solution. 

Thus began a process of joining his talents to those of my brother-in-law, working with the Pantry staff to seek their direction, and assembling the needed materials.  It all came together a few weeks ago as two Pennsylvanians, one Arizonan and a team of Pantry staff and other volunteers began to work on the hoop houses. Three and a half days of hard labor completely transformed those structures. The photo above shows the dramatic change from February to September.       

I have participated in many service projects over the years, but none was more meaningful. To see the joy of Pantry staff as the new roof took shape and then to depart leaving behind a structural change that will support their ministry for years to come was a deeply moving experience for me. Part of that emotional response arose from seeing why God had wanted me to return. More specifically, I now believe that the reason God wanted Lori and me to come back in February was to see the condition of those roofs and set in motion their repair.  Thus, my third trip to the Panty in a year’s time offered the rare occasion of clearly seeing God’s purpose.

For Jesus, that kind of awareness was a consistent part of his life and ministry.   

One Sabbath day after healing a man in Jerusalem, God’s son incurred the wrath of religious leaders who said he had no business doing such a thing. Their official reasoning was that healing constituted work on a day when observant Jews were to rest completely. More likely, they felt threatened by yet another display of his power. In his reply (found in the fifth chapter of John’s gospel) Jesus speaks of the connection with his father. “I can do nothing on my own,” he said. “My judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” 

For you and me that connection isn’t alway so clear.  We can mistake God’s will for our own and ignore times when our Maker seeks a different response. Since we rarely receive verbal instructions from God, we are left to figure things out as best we can. Sometimes, we get it right. Sometimes we miss the mark. I do. Perhaps you do, too.

Thus, instead of allowing my discovery from last month to propose a guaranteed way of figuring out God’s will, l point you to the Apostle Paul.  In particular, that moment when he urged some first-century Christians to “be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2b). Intentionally seeking to renew your mind doesn’t guarantee we will always get it right. Yet it’s a good place to start. 

As you continue in that effort, I pray you will have moments like I did in September when the will of God becomes undeniably clear. And when such occasions come, to give thanks for that one who still seeks the renewal of our minds and hearts and hands. The same one who celebrates when it all comes together.

Lead me, Lord, lead me in your righteousness.  Make your way plain before my face.  Amen.