As you read this, we are on the heels of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball Final Four tournaments and on the verge of the Master’s, arguably golf’s premier global Major. One observation is how easy these elite athletes make it look. Whether it’s Iowa point guard, Caitlin Clark, from three-point land or Scottie Scheffler on the tee, they appear so calm and focused. But what we see on TV is just the tip of the iceberg. There must be more . . . 

Indeed, there is more: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation! In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell argues that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery in a particular field or skill. Deliberate practice requires concentration, feedback, and the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone. And it obviously requires a major time commitment.  

The Christian life is no different. When God gives us an assignment, there is often a season(s) of preparation. In the case of the Israelites, it was 40 years in the wilderness. Moses mentored Joshua to become his successor. In fact, Moses died before Israel entered Canaan. The Book of Joshua chronicles this story: “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ²“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.” (Joshua 1:1-2)  

Let us draw strength and courage from the timeless words spoken to Joshua: Just as Joshua faced a pivotal moment of transition, so too do we encounter moments of change in our lives and in our church. Yet, we are assured that God’s promises remain steadfast and true! Let us stand firm in our commitment to one another and to the mission entrusted to us here at HRBC.  

As God told Joshua, let us “be ready” for the future. And when God gives us a word of vision for the future, let us go! God said, “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” (Joshua 1:3) With hearts filled with courage and minds anchored in faith, let us boldly cross the Jordan, knowing that the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. 

I leave you with this quote that appeared in a recent devotional. It’s from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The writer says, “Don’t be like Alice who asked the Cheshire-Cat, ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ ‘That depends on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat. ‘I don’t much care–” said Alice. ‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.” The devotional writer states, “To succeed, you must do the right things, moment by moment, day by day, following through with them in a consistent way.” (Source: The Word for You Today, April 5, 2024 entry, p. 23.)