“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching,

for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

–2 Timothy 3:16 

Some of you will recall from a September post that my first full-time job after college was with the Bell System. I started at an office in Gastonia, North Carolina, but after six months, was assigned a new task of managing a Repair Service Bureau, where customers called if experiencing service problems. I became manager of the Shelby RSB, who dispatched repair technicians in Cleveland and Rutherford counties. After the tech had cleared the issue we tested the line to ensure all was working well for the customer. I had a staff of six reporting to me. All of them were part of a union, the Communications Workers of America. It didn’t take me long in the new assignment to realize that I had no idea what I was doing. 

My undergraduate degree had been in economics, so I could talk about stagflation and Gross National Product, but had no knowledge of telephone company speak. Terms like central offices and buckets trucks, pedestals and drops mystified to me. As a senior at Davidson I took the only computer course offered in 1980, a 6-week class in programming that used punch cards. I don’t recall having used a monitor or software in that class and personal computers did not exist. Prior to my time in Shelby, I had never worked in a supervisory role or union setting either. And, my only skill when it came to repairing a broken telephone was to purchase a new one.  

So why was I, a computer-illiterate, union-ignorant, supervisory-infant with no technical skills whatsoever appointed manager? Because my boss had a surplus of supervisors and the position was vacant.  Furthermore, on virtually every index used to compare RSBs the Shelby office ranked last in the state. Thus, my manager knew I couldn’t make things any worse.  I wasn’t so sure. 

One day, I was sitting at my desk feeling overwhelmed when I looked at my bookshelf holding thick volumes of something called Bell System Practices. I began looking through them and discovered the chapters for RSBs: how to reduce outage times, choosing which trouble reports to dispatch first, and more. With nothing to lose, I decided our office would start to follow the manual. My staff wasn’t thrilled, mostly because they knew their 21 year old supervisor had no idea what he was doing, but also because they had developed patterns that didn’t always match the manual.  I convinced them to give it a try and soon our RSB results began to turn around. A year later, our office was honored for leading the state in two or three of those indices. My manager, of course, began to speak of how he had recognized and nurtured my raw talent. I was simply relieved!

We all have moments when we are unsure of where to begin. It isn’t only an issue for new college hires, but also a reality for new spouses and parents, new teachers and widows. In such settings and the untold other occasions like them we can ask the experts or wise friends. We have online search tools that can get us started as well. Some of those sources of information are more helpful than others.

As people of faith, though, there is no better place to begin and return for guidance than Scripture.  

The verse above is from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. The recipient was a young man beginning his own ministry and in our excerpt the Apostle is urging him to remain steadfast in those efforts. “Continue in what you have learned and firmly believe, knowing from whom you have learned it.” In earlier verses, Paul had celebrated the critical role that Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois had played in teaching Timothy the faith. The Apostle clearly has those women in mind as he continues “And how from childhood, you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 

Not everyone reading this post has had individuals from their early years to offer such instruction. Some of you may be the first in your family to be part of a church. For all of us, though, Paul concludes with these words: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”  In other words, when unsure about what to do next in all of the transitions of life, Scripture is still the best place to begin. 

That being said, I realize that the Bible with its 66 chapters can be intimidating as a resource so let me offer a few suggestions.  If you are part of a body of faith, ask your pastor or seek the wisdom of the Lois and Eunice you know who model a life of faith. If you prefer to set out on your own, choose a gospel (Mark is the shortest) and read it slowly over the next few weeks allowing its power to unfold. Focus on Jesus’ moments of instructions, perhaps pondering the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) or his “I am” statements (John’s gospels) or one of his parables (Luke records the most). If you’re seeking direction, reflect on Psalm 25:1-5. If you are fed by wise sayings, read the Book of Proverbs, perhaps starting with my favorite of 3:5-6. Or if you are in need of solace, turn to Romans 8:31-39. Wherever you begin, I’d love to hear how it unfolds for you over the coming year.

So where do you start when unsure how to begin?  Paul has pointed the way. The book may even be on your shelf right now. 

God of the ages, we thank you for the wisdom, comfort, and direction found in your written word. Guide us by your Spirit to open the cover again and then follow as you lead. Amen.