In the 1980’s classic movie Funny Farm with Chevy Chase, there was a scene that is burned into my mind. The moving truck and crew are lost and need directions, and they pull into a little town and see an older man in a rocking chair on the porch and ask for some assistance. The movers say, “Sir, could you offer us some assistance? We are looking for Dog Creek Road near a town called Red Bud.” The old man responds, “well, if I was trying to get to Red Bud, I sure as hell wouldn’t start from here.” 

I don’t know why these old 80’s comedy crack me up so much, but they do. And this scene is hilarious. If I were trying to get to Red Bud, I sure as hell wouldn’t start from here. As absurd as that may sound, how often do you say that in your everyday life? Maybe you need to process that and think about it from another point of view. Let me come at it from this direction, when is the last time you felt like God asked you to do something that you were not prepared, or ready for...so you sat still?

One area where I see this over and over is people falsely feeling like they need to walk away from their job in the corporate world, or business sector and enter the ministry. They come at this from a completely wrong approach, thinking they need to be in ministry to minister to others. Don’t get me wrong; being in ministry is incredible. I love it and am called to it. But, to think that being in ministry is the only way to minister is 100% false. Often, it is much easier to minister to the world and others in a secular work environment! Those I speak with who are processing this are like the old man on the porch, “If I were trying to minister to people, I surely wouldn’t start from here.”

1 Corinthians 7 has so much good content and meat, this morning a few verses mid-chapter hit me and drove me this direction. I believe we can accidentally find ourselves in many situations in life, and think, “I can’t get THERE from HERE.” This mindset is a trap, and we need to push through it and recognize God wants us and requires us to start right where we are. Check this out:

“Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.” - ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:17-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Start right where you are; remain in the situation the Lord has assigned for you at this time. Trying to get out of debt, but feel overwhelmed, and you don’t think you can get THERE from HERE? Start right where you are, honor God with your finances and make the small daily decisions and see how God provides. Do you find yourself significantly overweight and struggling with honoring your body as a temple? Start where you are, today, small decisions today, and losing just 1 lb a week will be 52 lbs. in a year. Don’t let your current circumstances trouble you, as Paul said, but start today!

Whatever your there is, the perfect place to start is right where you are. Pave your new direction today, one step at a time.