As we prepare for our annual High Country Adventure, I am reminded of an uncle that asked me if he could bring his nephew on a trip. I commended his initiative to step up as a father-figure in the boy’s life and encouraged him to do it. I shared that it was an uncle in my life that introduced me to backpacking a long time ago.
The young man accepted the invitation from his uncle but unfortunately did nothing to prepare for the physically demanding trip. About 20 minutes into the five-day trip, he took his pack off and informed everyone that he was not going any further. Failing to prepare made for a tough trip.
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, – Luke 14:28-29. Jesus’ emphasis here was on the importance of understanding the journey before you start. His analogy of a construction project provides a clear visual for those of us who have repaired fence after a storm or initiated a remodel of our home. Men are built to finish what they start. Of course, Jesus was not talking about just the physical realm. Later in the same chapter, Luke records Jesus introducing a new dimension for the journey of following Him. …those of you who do not give up everything you cannot be My disciples. – Luke 14:33. The disciples had a hard time getting their head around all Jesus was speaking of. It made for a tough trip. The high of highs was being empowered to cast out demons and heal the sick. The low of lows was being helpless as Jesus was crucified. The disciples struggled all the way to the point of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit lit on each of them and provided clarity for all Jesus had taught them. Then they were prepared for the next chapter of Jesus’ ministry. The disciples prepared the best they could in the natural, and God provided the ‘super’ for the supernatural birth of the Church in Acts. As dads, we struggle on the journey of emulating our Heavenly Father as we are called to. The charge is to prepare and do what we can in the natural with confidence, grounded in relationship with Jesus the Christ, that the Father will provide the ‘super’ as needed.
The other men came beside the young man and informed him that he would pick up his pack, put it on and put one foot in front of the other to continue the trip. He struggled but he realized the goal of making it to the Continental Divide. It would have been a lot more enjoyable along the way had he been more prepared. But God, working through the others on the trip, honored the boy’s tenacity by putting some ‘super’ behind what he could do naturally.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your Word and Your presence in my life. I confess my focus is typically on preparing for physical trips or projects. I have not thought much about the spiritual prep of time in prayer, Scripture and worship of You. Forgive me. Help me prepare through prayer and the reading of Your word, to be in stride with expectations You have for me, that I would lead my family spiritually by example. I commit to prepare as best I can in the natural and expect You to provide the ‘super’. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father prepares in the natural and expects God’s ‘super’.
