River Crossings

I was reminiscing the other day as we drove by one of the gates to Fort Moore of my time in airborne school. It was like taking a trip back in time for me as I thought about my friend who had a truck and introduced me to Waffle House as we crossed over the Chattahoochee River into Alabama on Hwy 280. I was also remembering the sheer amount of trepidation, uncertainty, and anxiety that I had before I showed up to Fort Benning (as it was once called).

In many ways I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I said to my recruiter, having watched too much Band of Brothers, “I want to go to airborne school.” It was six more months before I entered the military and shipped off to Basic Training, nineteen more weeks at my specific job training, and then they finally sent me off to airborne school.

In that time of waiting, there was at times waves of excitement and waves of nervousness. Would I survive airborne school? Would I succeed, or might I fail? What if I get injured? What if I’m not strong enough?

The Israelites must have been asking themselves the same questions as they stood on one side of the Jordan River and peered over into the Promised Land. There was probably a mixture of excitement and fear as they heard about the great size of the enemy from their parents who failed to trust God and forced Israel into 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses...Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:2-9*)

As St. George Anglican Church, we are coming up to our own Jordan River, leaving forty years of wilderness wandering behind us. It is part of our story and has made us into who we are today and should not be forgotten. The land in front of us is unknown to us and there’s a huge river in between us and it that needs to be crossed. But I believe strongly that the Lord is leading us into this next chapter of our book. We must be strong and courageous during this time, and helping each other along, caring for one another as Christ has cared for us, and never leaving anybody behind on the river bank.

Let’s continue to look out for one another St. George Family. Your love for one another and your love for us has been the hallmark of what defines us and makes me proud to be a part of this church!