Lesson 1 - The Page Turner
FEBRUARY 2023
Here we are: Helen and I announced to our church family (and anyone else who’s interested) that we’ll be handing over all our senior leadership responsibilities within Wellspring Church this Autumn. It feels epic, momentous.
25 years on an interleaf signals a new section in an unpredictable story.
Within hours of this announcement our youngest turned 18 and I’ve met with the steering group for YMCA’s Unify Europe where I was welcomed as their newest member; hours later, after umpteen years, I am handing over leadership of Christians Across Watford to a leader and team who run into the next stage of the race with enthusiasm and boldness. In the same week a friend and leader in a sister church was suddenly taken home to Jesus. Change, change, surprise, shock, and more change…
I grew up hearing Hebrews 12:1-2 from the New King James Version -
‘let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith’
Whilst I love the poetic idea that the God of the Ages has written a story, folding in characters with plots and sub-plots that would out-weave any postmodern Netflix series, the writer to the Hebrews is making an even more profound point: God is the Founder, the Initiator, the ‘originator or founder of a movement and continues as the leader’. He is the Creator who keeps on creating, the writer who still has pen to paper…
Yes, this is our experience. From before we were born, through our childhood discovery of Jesus and awakening of faith, through moments of miraculous wonder and valleys of agonising despair, it has been clear He did more than just set something in motion. He didn’t just step back. Over the last 25 years through misery and miracles, disappointments and delights, our loving God has attended to every chapter. In fact, it’s been a co-writing effort - we’ve written plenty of our own stupidity into the story! There is tragedy and comedy, deep pools of hurt and the resurfacing of hope, and the adventure is still unfolding.
Right now I can almost hear the page between sections of the story gently sweeping through the air above us… even as we work together a story of grace in each unwritten day, we recognise a greater hand is at work. And we trust Him.
The lesson? The Lord who has set many a feast for us in the presence of our enemies (Ps 23:5) is graciously attending to our story, shaping our future, and in His perfect way, He will see us through this page-turn until the next one, and so on, until the Finisher calls us home.
The prayer? For you - whoever you are - to yield wholeheartedly to the God who loves you best and knows what’s best for you. May you co-create with the Author, enjoying a changing life entrusted into His hands.