Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Josh and Moses and all the rest

My friend Josh was a consultant for Bronson Health Group in Kalamazoo. He used to wear a sharp black business suit with a power tie and go to meetings where he helped improve hospital processes.

Now Josh is on his way to Asia to teach English as a second language, but specifically as a vehicle for sharing the love of Christ. I've been deeply excited for Josh because I believe he's following God's leading and the passions inside himself to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to a city in Asia. But I was confronted today with the reality that if you look at what he's doing through a certain world view it looks like he's reverting to a college undergrad position.

As I was reading his letter and looking at his pictures from Asia a couple of connections occurred to me.

First I became aware of Moses and how he went from being in the court of Pharaoh to being a shepherd, the job often given to youngest sons and pre-teen girls in his day. He took a step "backward" before God could use him.

And it occurred to me that I'd felt a little let down taking a tip-based tourism job more fit for summers off school than as a follow-up to a seven year design career.

I don't necessarily want to compare myself or Josh to Moses. I don't even want to compare myself to Josh. What I do want is to remember that these steps "downward" offer the potential to build our character, just like they did for Moses, Jacob, Joseph, David and so many others. These offer a great way to follow Jesus into being a servant of all.

posted by Scott # 5:08 AM 0 comments