Stages Of The Journey
Sometimes when I reflect back on my life’s journey I see different stages of my life. The things that I was working through in each of those stages look so different from this stage of my life than they did at the time I was in that particular stage. For example, when my first son was born…if I knew then what I know now. As I review these stages much can be gained by this reflection. It can bring a lot of joy to my heart, but here was also struggle that caused great pain.
Moses was instructed by God to record the stages of the journey of God’s people upon leaving Egypt. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the massive number because there were likely over 1 Million people in their group when they left Egypt. When they camped somewhere along the way, it was a big ordeal. Moses records 41 camping stops in the 40+ years that they were nomadically traveling through the desert. The people of Israel are at the threshold of the new land promised to them by God himself. Moses is instructed by God to give them some instructions for taking the land. This is a very important stage of the journey. Check this out…
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. (Numbers 33:51-54 NIV)
As I reflect on my journey upon leaving home upon graduation from High School…
I went to what is now Johnson University in Knoxville, TN.
I married a young lady from Newnan, GA and lived in a Campus Apartment.
I began a weekend ministry near Crossville, TN.
I accepted the position of Youth Minister in Maryville, TN and lived there 2.5 years.
I accepted the position of Youth Minister in Whitesburg, GA and lived there 5 years.
I accepted the position of Youth Minister in Carrollton, GA and served for nearly 12 years full-time and 3 additional years part time. I went through a divorce while serving as youth minister in Carrollton – a dark and painful experience. I was held together emotionally by some dear friends whom I treasure to this day. I also remarried during a couple of years later to my wife Tina and we celebrated 20 years this past May. It was my understanding that if I left Carroll County Georgia that I would have to give up custody of my children so I started a new career path as a REALTOR. I do feel that the Lord is present with me today 13 years later.
The Lord is coaching me along the path I’m on. In many ways, He is more real to me now than I can recall on other parts of the journey. I also believe that the many things I learned at different stages of my journey have built me into who I am today. Nearly 5 years ago, we felt called by God to adopt an 11 year old boy from Nicaragua. This experience took me to a whole new level of understanding the heart of God.
I’m simply a child of the Most High God who follows Jesus, husband to Tina, Dad to my kids and I strive to be the most professional, hard working REALTOR on the planet! I can hardly wait to see what this stage of life will look like when I’m looking back on it. I’m holding tight to the Lord’s hand through the rest of my stages in life!
Pressing On!
Dwayne