“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
– Tolkien; The Hobbit

At the end of all things I find myself packing. Soon to be painting. It seems we are the only ones who enjoy our wall’s colors… And in the midst the watchful eye looks down on me. For the first Trunk or Treat the eye will not stand to guard my car’s candy. Every Halloween I abandon my trunk to play with the girls, so our candy is left alone for the taking. Only the eye’s glare kept young ironmen and princesses from taking all our sweets. I suppose the eye can see through disguises…

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
– Tolkien; Lord of the Rings

Writing in my office the eye watches over me as I ponder the future. I feel excited and sad… but also scared. I have learned how to minister here, to disguise my weaknesses. It is always safe at home, but to step out our door—to allow God to lead us somewhere new. I am nervous. And yet, I am excited. I know the adventure would cease if I do not follow. By following I know there will soon be new quests to live and tell.

And I also know, while my journey moves in a new direction, the tale does not have only one storyline. Instead each of us bear the weight of adventure. The eyes of God are upon all of us. He melts away our disguises and calls out to us “Come and Follow”.  If we risk ourselves and walk out the door, we will find heroics and life change await us!

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
– Tolkien;  Lord of the Rings

But we must decide. We may remain immobilized by fear, sadness, or anger. Or we can follow. If we decide to step out the door we will step into the adventure. While we may not find the thing we believed was missing, we will encounter much more than we were looking for—Christ himself!

I love all of you and I will miss you. But I know that God has great things in store. More than we even imagine!