At the beginning of a new year, most of us look forward and consider the opportunities and 

decisions that lie ahead of us. None of us know, for sure, what the coming year holds. We 

have some idea of how we would like the year to turn out. But what about God? What is 

his will for us for 2012? How can we know it? And how much do we take it into considera- 

tion as we travel through our lives? 

A life of faith is often presented in terms of a journey. Jesus, himself used that metaphor 

when he talked about wide and narrow paths, and when he presented himself as ʻthe way, 

the truth and the lifeʼ. Like junctions on a path or road, life presents us with choices. Some 

of those decisions are easy to make, some can been extremely difficult. Some are appar- 

ently insignificant, but others are obviously important. 

Through the long story of God and his people, there have been countless turning points.  

There have been times when God has advised people to go one way, and they went in the 

opposite direction. There have been times when he has brought them back to the chosen 

track; there have been times when - like a sat-nav - he has recallibrated their route and led 

them along ʻplan Bʼ or C or D or E, or Z! The same is probably true for all of us. 

Not all paths are equal, not all choices are good. It is not the case that God has a single 

plan laid out for our lives which we are obliged to follow, but he does want to work with us, 

and advise us, and help us to make choices that are good for other people as well as for 

ourselves. Some Christians have a tendency to assume that God only has struggle and 

suffering for them in this life. Others lean the other way and assume that if life does not 

feel good and happy, they must have taken a wrong turn. There is a time for each. 

Within St Johnʼs there may be a wide range in the ways that people engage with Godʼs 

guidance in their lives. There will be a lot that we can learn from one another as we ex- 

plore this theme. As always, it is good to be practical in our approach, and to look for the 

areas where Biblical wisdom touches real issues. 

Bon voyage! 

RWH