Three years ago I lost someone very dear to me. We met in college and she married one of my closest friends. During the past three years i have been traveling to their home to help out in any way I could. Cooking, cleaning,laundry, yard work, office work, counseling, consoling, and driving kids to and fro. After I closed my mortgage business early last year, my friend asked me to come up and manage his business for him so he could run for political office. With a family in SC, working in VA full-time would be a challenge. Initially my wife and I thought... "No way". But, as i prayed about it and submitted it to God, I some-what reluctantly said yes. This step of faith and obedience began in earnest my WILD GOOSE CHASE. It is important to remember that Celtic Christians refer to the Holy Spirit as the "Wild Goose". Now I did not know that I was on some super-natural chase at the time. I am not that bright! Not even close! Way above my pay-grade!(laughter). During the first month in VA I experienced many emotions.... anger, frustration, bewilderment, angst and a real desire to be home with my family. Now, the old Jon would have "bolted" for home early on! But, each time i was ready to leave God spoke to me and I began to pray about it. OK, Lord not my will but thine be done. Early on I said to God,"why am i up here, my family needs me?" Slowly but surely God, in His love and mercy, began showing me the Whys and giving me wisdom and insight along the way. Wow! That is awesome to know that God is using you and that He has a plan. During my season of trials I had wondered many times if God would use me again! He had put a desire for ministry and Kingdom work in my heart many years ago and i had sensed it coming alive again over the last two years. Oh, I feel one of those promptings.....(It is vital to remember that 7 years ago a desire to move to Denver was birthed in my heart and that when my mortgage business began to wane I started looking in earnest for ministry opportunities in Colorado but to no avail. Knock, knock , knock but no answers just closed doors! So, when i went up to VA to work full time- Colorado was out of the picture..... or was it? Lets just say that it was out of my limited picture!) O.K. back to the story....So, during my first full-time month in VA(going home every 2 or 3 weeks for a long week-end)I met a man(my friends political advisor)who was instrumental in my coming to VA. He had told my friend that if he was going to run for congress he would need a right hand person for his business. My friend immediately thought of me and so i was invited up...During my meetings with the political advisor i was being "tested" to know the level of my commitment to moving my family to VA and being the "right hand man" in my friends business. Now, one of my best qualities, so people say, is my honesty. So, I would honestly say that i was very open to the idea. Note: These meetings and talks of a moving commitment began in earnest in mid February, 2010 through March. Well, when they became hot and heavy i started running into people who were from Colorado, going to Colorado or had a relative in Colorado. These "meetings" would happen anywhere... coffees shop,a bakery, Appalachian trail, VA, SC, NC you name it! No matter where I was. Bamm!- a Colorado connection with someone I meet!
I began to have a strong sense that maybe my friend and His political consultant would be instrumental in my journey to Colorado. And then......................Tim gets drafted by the... Denver Broncos in April.
So, one Saturday in early May... i had just parked my car in front of a hiking trail in VA.. I got out and ensued my hike. As I began my walk i said, "O.K. God, what is going on with all these Colorado run-ins?" and then I got quiet.... and heard three words.... Tim Tebow Foundation. Then I thought, OK, what am I supposed to do about that? Sure, I have been a gator fan since I was 15 and sure I love Tim, his passion for the things of Christ and his football talent. But Tim does not know me from Adam! Now, just prior to this event, Tim had been drafted by the Denver Broncos! Prior to the draft, the thought had crossed my head... "man, it would be great if i ended up near where Tim is going to play pro ball." Now, I want you to know... I am not making any of this up! Well, hold on... it continues... Early on in my time in VA, i had a sense that i may not be in VA long term. During my early days at the office, i had one of the first of my VA divine appointments. One day at work, there was a young lady who was doing some contract work for the firm on the database. We talked briefly and I heard some of her "story". Shortly there after, I heard the Spirit prompt me to hire her to work in the office. After sharing this with my friend and selling him on the idea to at least consider it, I gave this person a call. I went on to ask her if she was interested in steady employment? She immediately said YES, I have been praying about finding steady work and had even thought that working at the "firm" would be fun! I asked her to send me a resume and i set up an interview. When I saw her resume i laughed out loud! Her skills and background were a perfect fit for the office and beyond. She even had experience that would be vital for a political run! OK, I may be slow, but I knew then that God was up to something. Unbeknowst to my friend, I began to train my new hire in all things pertaining to "my job". Note: the wisdom to do this came from above! I can't take credit for it! Besides giving this single mom of a 14 year old son a steady paycheck, God had more in store. She became my spiritual little "sis" and I her big brother. (i like big brother better than spiritual father- it makes me feel younger). Anyways, God was using me on many levels in VA and I was encouraged and excited.
Back to the Tim Tebow thing... The following week after my hike and hearing from God, my friend asked me out to dinner. i had the strong sense that He was going to press me about moving up again. Not quite, the evening turned out to be the following... my friend began to speak into my life...He said "I have been watching you and thinking about your talents. I see you working as someones right hand man, someone with a big platform, and someone you really respect." Now, i did not share with anyone what I had heard on the trail the previous week! I left that dinner with a spiritual buzz of wonderment as to what God was up to. Note: I must tell you that during these last few years I held the attitude of "I am not doing anything big without God making it really clear that He is in it!" After a few bad decisions and the suffering that came with them, I had become very uncertain of my ability to make a wise and timely decision. When you own your own business you are used to making things happen... being the man with the plan and the answers! Over the last few years God was impressing upon me my need to learn to wait on him and to hear His voice. I guess you could say that i was in an advanced course at this point! After the dinner meeting, i felt God prompting me to tell my friend about Colorado and the Tim Tebow Foundation. Up to this point I had kept all the "Colorado encounters" to my self. No need to rock the boat yet I told myself. I'm sure the practical side of my friend thought I was smoking something when i told him what was going on. I went on to insure him that I was not making any decisions and was still open to moving my family to VA. There after, the Spirit began to really confirm in my spirit that i was not long for this job and VA. I did let my new hire at the office know that my time in VA could very well be coming to a close. God began to really crystallize in my mind how He had brought me up here to serve my friend and his family, helping him get his life and business back together after losing his wife of 22 years. He also confirmed that i was here to help my "new hire" get further down the path of her walk with God. When I would think about it I would get such an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what God was doing in and through me! It is very humbling to know God is using you with all your flaws, shortcomings and past failures. Towards the end of May my friend "cornered me" and challenged me to "step up to the plate" and keep the job I had with him. To meet my responsibilities at home and forget this Tim Tebow and Colorado thing! He went on to say that the economy is really tough and that he feared for me and my family. i left the next day for SC with my tale between my legs! I was hurt and confused but I did know this,.... God was up to something and that i was not to be discouraged or swayed but to stay strong and steadfast.
After my long weekend home I went back to work and my friend tune had changed. He had become open to the idea that God may have something else in store for me! He had left his position of fear and doom and gloom and had moved to a place of faith, hope and matters of the heart. Prior to my long weekend home I had promised to pray and give him a decision by June 15th. I woke up on Monday the 7th and knew that the coming Friday (the 11th) would be my last day! I sent my friend a text confirming this. You may think that is crass but he communicates mostly by text and email. Hold on, I must digress.... Over the past few weeks I sensed the Lord telling me that I was ready to make a decision now. To trust my spiritual hearing again. That I did not need to wait for my friend "to release me" from service to him and his family. Early on, I had told God that I was going to work for my friend until he released me! This way I could be sure that I was not "going my own way again". Also during this time period I was also hearing the Lord tell me it was time to take a step of faith. Like Moses, who had to step into the Red Sea before it parted. So, during the first week of June the thought began to formulate that my step was to be .... going to Colorado. That's right driving to CO.! No job offer, no interview, no nothing! Just a lot of Colorado promptings and a word from the Lord about Tim Tebow Foundation. I did not know if Tim was even there or if God was setting up another divine appointment of such magnitude. Now, I must admit that when I considered this trip I thought about the potential for people to look at me as a failure... a fool and an idiot! I am sure that's how many of Gods saints have felt or thought before they took the big, irrational and scary step of faith! Also during this time, the week prior to June 7th.) I "ran into"- a divine appointment with the Young Life Director for the area. For 3 years I had heard great things about him and the Young life ministry in the area but had never met him. It turns out that his oldest daughter was about to leave for Central England to work with Young Life. Wow! My only daughter and eldest child lives in Northern England with her British husband and our first grand baby! Needless to say, besides Christ we also had a deep connection through our "English" daughters and all that goes with letting our kids go, especially so far away! We had to cut our "meeting" short but spoke about getting together soon. After our talk I had the strong sense that I was meant to connect my "new hire" and her son with Young life. That the ministry would be a big part of their lives and instrumental in their spiritual journey. Later that day i texted my new Young Life friend and mentioned this. Two days went by with no response and so I called him and left a message. At this point I must explain something. In the past when I reached out to people more than once with no response i would begin to think lesser of them, especially if they were in ministry. "Wow, the guy is in spiritual leadership and he can't even return a phone call" would be my normal response. But, I was learning to not go on those thoughts/feelings. Then, on the 7th of June after I had sent my letter of resignation, I was driving one of my friends sons somewhere and i mentioned about getting my "new hire" and her son involved in Young Life. He called the Young life leader from my car and began to tell him about all this. Hmmm. "He get right through and i can't get a return call". I let it go and wait on the Lord. The next day, Tuesday the 8th, I get a call from the Young Life leader. He says we can meet at 9 on Thursday the 10th after his early appointment. I hang up and immediately thank God for His patience in teaching me to wait on Him and trust Him. Well, Thursday rolls around and i am still tentatively waiting on God about driving to Denver on Friday after work. So, I am at Starbucks, waiting on my 9 A.M. appt. and I run to the bathroom just prior to 9. I come back out and the Young Life leader is sitting at my table. Kind of surreal I think! After some chit chat I start to tell him "my story", the one I am telling you in this blog. He gets this big smile on his face and says, "I have a book in my car for you!" It's entitled, The Wild Goose Chase. He goes on to say that he was going to give it to his first appointment but that it had cancelled due to a schedule mix up. Then he says, "Now I Know why he cancelled, God wants you to have this book!" So, that night I go to bed "mostly" committed to going but still waiting for a "sign from the Lord".
Well... I wake up at 3 in the morning and God tells me that I am going to CO but not driving. That I am to go on Price line and name my own price for a flight and car and it will cost the same as if i had driven! Well, i would say that is a pretty good sign! I go to work Friday and it happens just as He said. I leave tomorrow, Saturday, at 8 in the morning! Oh, I almost forgot... the Young Life leader dropped by the office and met my New Hire Thursday afternoon and they planned out how to get her son plugged in this summer! We were collectively floating on a spiritual cloud seeing how God had orchestrated everything! Meanwhile during my stay in VA I had heard about couch surfing and promptly signed up for it when i thought I was going to CO. Money is real tight and I need to be as frugal as possible! So, after several inquiries I find someone willing to host me starting Sunday night but no one to host Saturday yet. Normally, I am not one to take a chance but plan out my trip in advance. On Friday I call a friend who has a friend in Denver who might be able to put me up. He is a Christian. But my friend has not heard back from him... I walk in faith...On my flight to Atlanta... God begins to show me all the "divine appts." I have had over the last 5 months and a smile of joy mixed with tremendous anticipation wells up within me, akin to leading someone to the Lord or seeing your firstborn enter the world. So much so that I begin to look for Tim Tebow in the Atlanta Airport as I walk to my gate! Sounds crazy I know! But, following the wild goose is a wild ride! I begin to read more of the book the Young Life leader gave me as I wait in the Atlanta airport.. The Young Life leader had texted me and asked if i was laughing in amazement at what I was reading and I had said not yet on Friday. Here it is Saturday, at The Atlanta airport on my way to Denver and as I read I begin to laugh out loud and what I am reading. "this is exactly what is happening to me!"
As I search for my seat on the plane i am still looking for Tim. Guess who the Lord seats me next to? No, not Tim! But, a 7th grader who, I imagined, was the spitting image of Tim at that age. He was so well spoken and would answer all my queries with a yes sir! And get this, he is a huge Georgia fan! You just can't make this stuff up now can you? He and his family were off on their own adventure going to a dude ranch in Northern CO. Well, we land in Denver and his dad shakes my hand and thanks me for being such a good host to his two youngest kids. Really, it was my pleasure! I get my rental car, after the longest wait ever! The old Jon would be upset,,, but the new Jon is patient. Praise The Lord! I get maybe two miles down the road and my friend calls and says I have a place to stay in the Washington Park area of Denver! Just where I had wanted to be! God is amazing! My faith walk continues.... I hook up with my host and we proceed to a cook out with friends from His church. How awesome is that! Instead of staying the night by myself in a hotel, I am having fellowship with a bunch of Christians eating great food and playing corn hole... a bean bag game! They invite me to their Church and I gladly accept! I sit down in Church and in walks this girl who sits right next to me. Turns out she came to CO to work at a Young Life camp and is now volunteering with Student Venture! I was on staff with Student Venture 22 years ago! Ya just can't make this stuff up! We go to a Rockies game Sunday afternoon and God blesses us with great seats at a great rate!
I wake up Monday and go for a jog in Washington park. While i am jogging a guy walking towards me looks at me as if he knows me! He says, I used to work for you in the mortgage business! I said, you must be mistaken! I used to have a mortgage business but not in CO. I left shaking my head. I stop at Starbucks after my run, just down the street and on my way back to the apt., to use the restroom and the Spirit prompts me to look up today's devotion on Streams in the Desert website via my blackberry. it talks about waiting on the Lord and I sense the Lord telling me to wait. After showering i head to Stella's, a cool coffee shop owned by a man named Stan. Note: I had planned on heading down to Dove Valley to see if God had a divine appt for me with Tim. But the Spirit encouraged me to wait. So here I am at Stella's working a crossword puzzle. I overhear this man in his 60's talking on the phone and singing a prayer I am familiar with. When he gets off the phone he walks by me and I tell him I know that prayer. He proceeds to tell me he was praying with one of his prayer partners who is sick and they always close with that prayer song. He then tells me about his journey of faith and how God has been with him in so many very real and tangible ways! I tell him I am out here on my journey of faith and he lays hands on me and prays! Wow! I go back to my puzzle and shortly feel a strong sense that I am supposed to move. So I head down to Dove Valley. I pull in the parking lot and sit. It has turned nice, cool and partly sunny! I sense I am to get out and sit on a wall in front of the building. I bring my book(Wild Goose Chase) and read. An amazing sense of peace comes over me. Such tranquility! Amazing! I sit there for an hour and a half and then it starts to shower. i head to the car and wait, trying to hear from the Lord and fighting off thoughts of " you idiot, what are you doing here!". i start to drive away and get this strong sense that I am to turn around and go back. I obey and go back. this time i sit in my car and wait, peaceful. i fall asleep. I wake up after a brief nap and end up leaving at 3pm. Four hours of peaceful waiting. No Tim Tebow but much peace.
During my remaining days in CO I sight see and hear the Lord telling me that I need to trust Him and be strong and not waiver. Time and again I am reminded of this and also that I will be under attack. Yes and Yes! On Tuesday, my new Denver friend and host encourages me to go to Breckenridge- a nice day trip. So after my jog I head up to Breckenridge. It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining after 3 days of rain. The rockies are showing off all their glory the Lord gave them! I am so joyful! I get to Breckenridge and walk around. A lovely town... Note. I had planned on going to Steamboat Springs but was waivering due to the long drive so I settled on Breckenridge. I walk upon a Thai place and stop for lunch. Sitting outside, the owner walks out and sits by me. We strike up a conversation and out of the blue she starts talking about Steamboat Springs and how i must go visit. i leave there and say, Ok ok I going God. I stop at Starbucks and get on my computer and shoot some couch surfing requests to people in Steamboat. No replys..
I head on in faith. The drive is spectacular! The glory of the Lord is all around me! I get to Steamboat and park. I start down main street and have a sense there is a river across the way with a river walk. I ask a police officer and he says yes! As I get closer to where i think the river is I happen upon a health food store. I make it a point to always stop at one to get a healthy recommendation for a meal. The clerk recomends a place right on the river with a deck that backs right to the water. Awesome! I sit down and order a salad. Two girls at a table of 5 start talking to me from afar. They ask if i am by myself and then ask if i would like to join them. Turns out they all work at a restaurant that will be opening soon. Three of them turn out to be chefs and one of the girls is newly married to one of the chefs who is from Germany. They ask me what I am up to and I proceed to say that i am just here for the afternoon and evening and will then make the 3 hour drive back to Denver. One of them says it is too far to go back late. I told them I had tried o couch surf but had not heard from anyone yet. They proceed to ask me to stay with them at their condo on the mountain! Now I want you to know that I am a foodie! I love good food prepared with love. Here I am in one of the most beautiful spots God created and I am being offered free lodging and fellowship with a bunch of chefs! I get to watch my beloved lakers crush boston and eat free grilled salmon in holandaise sauce with oysters, thick cut bacon, sauteed mushrooms, asparagus and a great bottle of riesling to boot. All with people I just "happened to Meet".
Following the Wild Goose is wild, is it not? It turns out the one of the two girls was from a very legalistic Christian background. Too me legalism and Christianity don't mix! and they don't, I could tell she had been wounded by the "religion" she grew up with. God told me i was to love on these folks. I awoke early and after my run by the river, I went and bought some flowers and a card to return the kindness these strangers had shown me.
On my way back to Denver i stopped in Boulder! Wow! I hiked up in the hills right on the outskirts of town. Just amazing! It reminded me of hiking in England this Spring. I then walked through this outdoor mall and came upon a traveling musical group. They were amazing! Bluegrass! I clogged a bit right then and there! What a blast! I had not clogged in since my college summers in the Mtn.s of Western North Carolina. We closed my stay in Denver going to a local brewery where i had the best Belgium beer I have ever had! Cheers to the Wild Goose and all those who have shared in my Wild Goose Chase. My last day in Denver God urged me to journal my story. This blog, my first, is a result of my continued obedience to the Gooses promptings. I thank God for His goodness and mercy in my life. That He wants to daily communicate with me astounds me! He truly does want relationship. It sure is fun being a branch on the vine! there is more to follow i'm sure of it. Stay tuned. Blessings, Jon
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