Spiritual Preparation for a Spiritual Journey

In my last post, I described having a different spiritual focus for our family each week. In this post I'm going to mention why I have bothered thinking this way. :)

Our trip to Taiwan feels forever in coming, which is great, because there is so much to do to prepare the house for a 3 month absence, not to mention getting 6 people ready for the journey of a lifetime.

As I consider what needs to be done, my mind has been drawn to the blessing of our going at all. I have wanted this trip for 13 years. Through faith and prayers, we are making it happen. But I find myself wondering if this is just a blessing for a long desire and a willingness to act, OR does God want and need us to go as much as we want and need to go? Time will tell.

There have already been many blessings enter our lives as a result of doing the things we’ve dreamed of doing. There is certainly renewed power, vigor, and focus in all things as we boldly step into the unknown, certain that we CAN conquer of tiny bit of the life we want to lead.

But I feel if we are to fulfill God’s will, we will need his help to do it.

And I can’t help guessing at God’s why’s, if He has any. Will we find strengthened testimonies as we live deep in the “mission field” and away from our comfortable/awkward Mormon culture? Will we be influenced by being back in MY mission territory? Will we have the opportunity to be missionaries as a family? Are we needed to help the missionaries in Taiwan? Or will this trip help us find a greater mission and purpose in our lives? Will we find a fulfilling and profitable career for Q?

Once again, because I know I have no way of knowing so much from my tiny perspective, I’m reminded clearly of how much I need a piece of God’s. And that has led me to more prayer, more scripture study, and the practice of trying to let God guide me in the big things now, AND in the little things. For how can I trust He will make of this journey in the coming months what it needs to be in, if I can’t let him now make of the preparation what He will?

All of this can feel like one more thing to get ready, among such a large list. But this one thing makes all the others easier. We can prepare with God, and we can go with Him too. I hope He will feel invited to join us, always.