Will you...?

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,

will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

(The Summons, first verse)

Will I? Yes, with God's help.

For many years we sang 'The Summons' at a service for Christian Unity in my hometown of Larne. This hymn always made me uncomfortable, in a positive sense. I think this discomfort came from the fact that I knew, from a young age, that God was calling me into the unknown. He was calling me to go to a place where I don't know, and where once I had been I would never be the same. When and where this would be, I had no idea.

On 17th August I left the familiar and stepped on a plane to a place I did not know, Nashville, Music City. I was following that call I had been hearing for many years. I say this not to boast about following God's call, that would be foolish. Instead, it is important to recognise that God still calls imperfect people to do his work. Thanks be to God!

This past weekend I got a plane and to yet again fly to a place I do not know. On Thursday evening I flew to Chicago to visit McCormick Theological Seminary (http://mccormick.edu/). Since being in the US, I have become convinced that the next step on my journey into the unknown, is to pursue formal theological education and McCormick is one of the seminaries I am interested in. On Friday I spent time with some of the staff and students at McCormick, which was a great time of genuine fellowship.  I always find it a spiritual experience when fellow human beings share their stories with each other. I was so thankful to be part of this special group of people, even if it was only for a short time. So, if anyone from McCormick is reading this, thank you!

A few photographs from my time in Chicago...

Where I will be after this YAV year, I do not know, only God knows that. In many ways it feels too early to be considering next years options, however many seminary application dates are coming up soon, if they have not already passed. The final verse of the hymn I mentioned at the beginning of this post describes the call I seek to follow, wherever it takes me. 

Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.

Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.

In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.

Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.