Every good blog needs at least one or more movie quotes and references. When Captain Jack Sparrow was asked the question how he was able to escape a desert island, after being marooned their by his mutinous crew, with only one pistol and one shot, he simply responded with:"you forgot one very important thing mate, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
During our Luke 10, the part in the Bible where seventy people where send out by Jesus to preach the Gospel but they are not allowed to take anything with them, our leaders "marooned" us us in Swaziland and told us we had to make it back, in groups of three to Jeffrey's Bay in five days with only a backpack, water bottles, one phone ( only for emergency) and a Bible. Will Turner would have probably have responded in that moment :" This is either madness... or brilliance", but according to Jack Sparrow those two traits othen coincide. I have discovered and learned in the Luke 10 journey that faith usually also coincides and even
grows with fear, discomfort and uncertainty.
Every time Jack Sparrow did something remarkable, or should I say Captain Jack sparrow, the people nearby would be astonished and would ask him how he did what he did, a brief response or rebuke would follow from Jack of utter disbelief and frustration of the fact that they just don't get it:"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow?". I think Jesus responds maybe, sometimes in the same manner, when we come to moments in our lives when we discover that Jesus is really who He says He is, for example when the disciples were fearful and anxious when a great storm arose on the sea, with water even flooding the boat, Jesus just responded with: " Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?". Jesus probably asked me the same question during the Luke 10, when I was constantly reminded of His presence, provision, love and protection around every corner.
In Jack Sparrow's possession is a campass, that points to the thing that he wants the most, I can maybe quickly ask you where does your compass point to? Othen times Mr. Gibbs would ask his Captain in what direction they should go, Jack Sparrow would look down at his compass, give the direction and soon afterwards an enthusiastic shout would follow from his first mate: "we have our heading". In our Luke 10 we did not have a compass, but who needs a compass with you have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. From the very start of the Luke 10, we learnt that we never take a step, never go left or right before asking the Lord to direct our path. Prov3:5:" Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He shall direct your path." Looking back now, I can see this is not just something you do on a Luke 10, but we must seek our heading from God in everyday, with every step and you will find yourselve even stumbling into His will by accident.
To sum up what I have learnt during my Luke 10 journey, is to never forget the "very important thing", to really know who Jesus is...