On January 11 of this new year (2012) I was amazed to find myself and a buddy canoeing the Rock River, in balmy 58 degree sunshine.  It has never happened before this far into winter.  By the very next night, I was cross country skiing through 6 inches of fresh powder, with a temperature of 12 degrees.

Nobody can say the weather here is predictable!

And that is a perfect metaphor for the life of following Jesus- it is wholly unpredictable.  Just start listening for the voice of the Spirit with a whole hearted intention to obey every whispered word, every nudge, and you will find your self far from where you thought you might be, and doing what you never intended.  Just read the accounts of the early disciples in the book of Acts.  All over the place...

They, and we had fair warning.  Right at the get-go of his ministry, Jesus was chatting with one of the religious leaders of the Jews, a guy named Nichodemus.  He told him that anyone "born of the Spirit"- that is, committed to following Jesus- would find themselves coming and going like the wind- that is, unpredictably. 

Jesus himself modelled that out. His life was far from conventional, and far from predictable.  Read the New Testament accounts of his life.  Crazy!   And to be his disciple meant and means to be like him, go where he goes, do what he does.

Most of us are far more comfortable with routine, with doing the same things, in the same way, at the same time.  Predictable.  Safe.  Comfortable.  Efficient.

But often not effective.  And certainly not if it means we are out of the will of the ever-guiding, ever-blowing all powerful and empowering Spirit.  A rut is just a routine that we have worn deep enough.  And a grave is just a rut with both ends closed.

So what for you?  A life of unpredictable adventure?  Or an ever deepening rut...