Some Recent & Intersecting Thoughts

I took a walk in Los Angeles a couple days ago. That's a lot like saying I took a walk in North America a couple days ago, it doesn't tell you much about location. Location is something I've been thinking about a lot lately...

The location I happened upon during that walk was a thoroughly-traveled bit of road that, on this particular morning, was closed off to cars and had been re-created as the finishing area for a 5k race.

When I happened upon it, the race was long-since over and various crews were tearing down tents and the like. They were converting the space, pruning back the tented weeds to reveal the area's true purpose, to facilitate travel for Angelinos. I've been thinking a lot about pruning lately as well...

So much in my life over the past few months has centered around ideas of location (changing locations, importance of home, ministry location, etc...) and pruning (relationships, God's growth, identity as a pastor, etc...)

1st Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

This verse is often quoted in high school purity small groups consisting of hormonal boys. Without a doubt, an application of this verse is sexual purity, but it is so much more expansive than that. God is is telling us that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear in anything..."no temptation." We will never find ourselves in situations where there is no hope to cling to, or where the tempation to give up on God and his purposes for our lives will ever be validated. We will never find ourselves in situations where there are no ways out. We will not find ourselves anywhere (location) where God is not there to strengthen and uphold us.

This is an idea, or understanding, that has seen some accelerated progression in my life recently. I think that it found a boost when it began intersecting with ideas of pruning. God has been taking dynamite to some old ideas for me lately, he has been cutting away things to reveal more and more who he wants me to be. I haven't experienced revelation and discernment like this since my time as a hosptial chaplain last fall. :)

The intersection where pruning and location met has been my move here to Los Angeles, and everything that has been a part of that move over the last several months. More on that in a later post though, I need some more distance from the transition to speak clearly...

You know, I have never really enjoyed being outside. I'm much more of an indoor guy.

That seems to be changing now that I find myself in Southern California.

Now that I find myself in a garden...being pruned.