Pausing

When I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know

/ johngregoryjr / 1 Comment

One of the more liberating understandings I came to appreciate years ago was that there are times I don’t know what I don’t know. Well, maybe at first it wasn’t liberating. Probably more frustrating…until grace stepped in.

This came to mind recently when I read Joshua 7. Talk about a frustrated leader. Joshua was deep in it. Here’s how he voiced it to God:

7 Then Joshua said, “Oh no, Lord God! Why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan? Was it to hand us over to the power of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been prepared to live on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Please forgive me, Lord. What can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the whole population of the land will hear of it. They will surround us and make our name disappear from the earth. What will you do about your great name then?”

In this moment, Joshua had no idea what Achan had done. In all reality, it’s possible he didn’t even know Achan. Think about it. A man he may not have known was the reason behind his questioning, pleading, and speculating. Joshua didn’t know what he didn’t know.

These type of scenarios can be an opportunity to hit pause. Before finger pointing at God or spraying the mirror with the “why’s, what are you doing’s, or what will happen’s,” some additional questions are available that usher in curiosity and temper impatience.

  • What am I missing?
  • What don’t I know that would be helpful to explore discovering?
  • Is it possible I’m in the ripple of someone else’s wave?
  • What do I believe about God’s character, and how does it fit with my current reaction and posture?

Those kind of questions change prayers, create stillness, and offer a seat beside restorative waters. When and if I need to know what I don’t know, it will come. This is a moment for grace…and there’s plenty available.

Photo by Danny Froese on Unsplash

Bunker Life Lessons

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This transpired yesterday during Kramer Hickock‘s 3rd round of the PGA Championship in Tulsa.

So many life lessons can be drawn from Hickock’s situation, response, and result.

Rather than me sharing a list for you, I encourage you to watch it several times and make your own list.

After you watch it once, start your list.

Each time you watch it, add more life lessons to your list until you get at least three.

Then share these lessons with someone soon.

We can learn so much from life’s bunker moments. Keys to making these lessons stick with us include pausing to mark them, making note of them, and sharing them. They have more of a chance to become part of us when we do more than just notice them.

Happy Pausing, Noting, and Sharing!

Photo by Peter Drew on Unsplash

Stage Reviews

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As if Moses didn’t have enough to do, read these two first verses of Numbers 33 to see a rather dull command he followed:

“These were the stages of the Israelites’ journey when they went out of the land of Egypt by their military divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command, Moses wrote down the starting points for the stages of their journey; these are the stages listed by their starting points:” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭33:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

From verse 3-49, the review of these stages and starting points include 42 campsites. That means this nation of people together moved 42 times over a 40-year period. Go ahead and pause. Just try to get your mind wrapped around that. I’m just going to sit here and shake my head for a moment.

Ready for a different thought? As I read this review, I thought about my stages and starting points. First, I thanked God it hasn’t been 42, only 6-if you’re counting only cities, that is. Actual “campsites,” something like 15. Like in this Numbers 33 review, some stages had some notable events where God’s work in my life/community can be seen. These events are worth remembering, worth learning from, worth being grateful for.

  • Winchester, Tennessee-where I was born and was given the foundation for life from parents of faith in the God of these same Israelites
  • Gadsden, Alabama-where the importance of a church community was illustrated to me, in particular when my dad died
  • Thomasville, Georgia-where I began the journey into adulthood and watched my mother model courage and faithfulness
  • Pensacola, Florida-where my college work gave me the opportunity to personally mature in following God through my own convictions
  • Jacksonville, Florida-where my various career moves showed God’s patience, wisdom, and guidance
  • Bradenton, Florida-where God continues to reinforce that the best place in life is right where He has placed you

Where has God been in each of your stages? Take a review. Go ahead and pause. Get your mind wrapped around that. I’m just going to sit here and nod my head for a moment.