Snapshots from El, Inc.

Following Waengongi's Trail

I watched "End of the Spear" last night - it's a dramatized documentary on the Waodani tribe's journey of faith, sparked by the courageous sacrifice of 5 missionaries (one of them being the now famous Jim Elliot). Not the strongest movie I've watched, but nevertheless carried very strong themes and messages that God has used to talk to me. I'll share one of them here.

In one scene, Dayuma, a Waodani young lady who lived with the missionaries to escape the barbaric cycle of killing among the Waodani, returns to her tribe (after the death of the 5 missionaries) with the wives of the missionaries. She is the only way for the Waodani to hear about God (whom they know as Waengongi), since the missionaries are not yet fluent enough in the tribal language. When she tells her family about Waengongi, who has taught them not to kill, who has a son, who promises a better life for them, they ask her, "How do you know what Waengongi says?"
"Waengongi has left carvings on the trail for us to follow. We can show them to you", she replies.

That phrase speaks to me in this season of my life as I strain to receive direction from God (Waengongi) as to what step to take after graduating from Ozarks. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6). That familiar verse from Proverbs comes to mind, and is made fresh in my spirit with the idea of carvings on a trail. I like the idea of God leaving tracks for me to follow on a trail. That word picture reminds me that I can't know the whole journey, but am rather on an adventure, a search for him - he's left markings on the trail that will help lead me to his will. I find peace in this thought - all I have to do is follow the markings to the next markings. Step by step, he'll lead me, till I reach the end of the trail, and I know what's at the end.. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6), and a place that will "prosper me and not harm me, and give me a future and hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Makes me happy. :)

Now to prepare myself to receive his direction. Gotta move so I can find the next marking on the trail. I'm coming, Daddy! :)

Labels: For the spirit, Musings

posted by Joel Chan @ 5:36 PM