Traveling With Cats & A Whole Lot of Faith

I'm going to offer you a suggestion--a word of wisdom, if you will.  

If at any time in the future you decide that you need to drive over 1,000 miles cross country with two kids, a dog and two cats, just don't.  This is something you don't need to do, trust me.  

My emotionally fragile cat screamed at the top her lungs the first four hours of the trip.  When daylight broke on the morning the second day, she screamed approximately 10-15 minutes of every hour.  

At one point, as I was driving across Louisiana, I started thinking about Abraham, and how God had called him.  In Genesis 12, the Scripture reads, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you."

I wondered if Abraham had cats, and if so, I also wondered if Abraham had contemplated leaving one of his emotionally fragile cats in a rest area.  

Think about the kind of faith that it would take to pull up stakes, and leave everything you knew without knowing where you are going.  When I start feeling like I'm accomplishing something by starting a new adventure, leaving behind all that I have known to start a new life in a new place--I think about Abraham and feel kind of small. 

I knew where I was going, when I felt God's call.  Austin, Texas is awesome.  God blessed us with a great house to move in to, and a great new church family, who is already welcoming us into town in a wonderful way.  

Even though there was a lot about our move that was unknown, it wasn't anything like what Abraham experienced.  Abraham got nothing by way of instruction, except just to go.  "When you get there," God basically said to Abraham, "I'll let you know."  And Abraham went. 

I want to have that kind of faith--the kind where I am able to consistently step boldly into the future, knowing that when I get to where God wants me to be, I'll know it.  I feel like I am exercising the faith muscles that I'll need to live like Abraham, but I've got a ways to go yet.  

May you find the faith to step forward when you feel God's call--even though the way may be unclear.  May you discover new faith muscles along the way, strengthening your resolve, giving purpose to your steps.  May you also find that God is already waiting for you, ready to welcome you to your future.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.