Family Life

Stephen Lawhead’s novel Byzantium opens with “I saw Byzantium in a dream, and knew that I would die there.” And so Aidan, a young Irish monk, goes through much of the book really stressed about his own demise upon reaching Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine empire. Despite his grave misgivings he sets sail from Ireland with a group of fellow monks. Along the way he gets shipwrecked, captured by Vikings, enslaved by Muslims, and all sorts of other misadventures. About 800 pages’ worth. Throughout his perilous travels he’s scared to death about being killed by his various captors and not completing his pilgrimage, and scared to death about completing it, reaching Byzantium and thus dying. The poor guy’s worries are almost worse than his physical torments.

Until someone points out that if, in fact, he really is going to die in Byzantium then that makes him pretty much invulnerable everywhere else. That can be a pretty comforting thought when he faces imminent death at every turn in the road.

It’s a lesson I need to take to heart, but often forget. With God’s clear direction in front of me, I shouldn’t worry about potential pitfalls along the way. If He has shown me where to go then He will know how to get me there. All I have to do is believe that He knows what’s going on, and carry on in faith despite the hazards. But sometimes it’s hard to not be intimidated by those hazards.

Even Abraham had a faltering track record. Going to offer up Isaac was a shining moment of faith. He believed God’s promise of a son so thoroughly he was willing to sacrifice him at God’s request. Abraham figured God would bring Isaac back to life. It was the very least God could do. After all, He’d promised. On the other hand, God had also promised to give Abraham the land he lived in. But faced by difficulties, Abraham forgot God’s promise and left to go to Egypt, where he ran into all sorts of problems he shouldn’t have.

I moved here for work, with the firm assurance that this place and this job was where the Lord wanted me to be. The direction was quite clear. Now with all the recent conflict and politics and power struggles at work, it’s hard to remember that original clarity. There have been times when I’ve wondered whether I should switch jobs, maybe move house. But I don’t think the Lord has changed His mind. So I should stay put, even though it’s difficult to hold on to His leading with unwavering faith.

May God give me strength.

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