Where do we go from here?

That’s the question many people are asking, it’s just a matter of what the question is referring to.

There are many people asking where do we go from here concerning politics. Assumptions about the nation were proven wrong. The same could be said about groups in the country as well. Where do we go from here when it appears that the people who will be put in charge of various parts of government seem more intent on dismantling government, rather than reforming it or using it to help people? Where do we go from here when it comes to family and friends whose values are significantly different (or possibly at odds) with oneself? Where do we go from here with concerns about the loss of rights of various groups of people? There are plenty of other questions that could be asked. Where do we go from here?

It’s not just politics that people are asking the question. Where do we go from here with economics? Tariffs, and trade wars, and the cost of products? Being able to provide for one’s family?

People have been asking where do we go from here about church for some time. They ask about it in relation to the decline in membership, highly divergent theologies that often make it seem like people are worshipping different Gods, how to relate with other branches of Christianity that seem to be swept up in the pursuit of power in order to impose their version of truth on everyone else, and more.

People ask where do we go from here when they experience a loss of health. They ask it when they go through a trauma or life-altering injury. They ask this question with the loss of a dear loved one. They ask the question when they lose their job or retire. They ask themselves this question when they have children and have their whole world upended.

We humans are really good at asking where do we go from here. We desperately want answers to the question. We want to know. We want to have a sense of control over our own lives, if not the world around us.

But the reality is that there isn’t an answer. There may be some answers, but usually they aren’t good answers. Or they have holes in them. Sometimes they are answers we don’t like – maybe more often than we prefer.

I don’t know what to tell you in response to any of these questions above. In some sense, the answers aren’t all that important. My hope is that the question sparks other questions, which lead you deeper into more questions, self-reflection, and silence. It’s only then that we actually stop and listen and look around. It’s only then that we are finally open to hearing and learning. It’s only then that we can see past the bad assumptions we’ve been making.

Where do we go from here? Great question. I don’t know. We just keep going. We hold onto the faith we have been given and live into it. We keep hoping. We keep doing our part to have a positive impact on the world. We keep asking questions and paying attention. We listen with our ears and our heart. We care about others. We go on living as best we can. And we encourage others on their life journey as well. We offer what we can to people. Right now what I hear from people is that they need hope for the future. And that’s what I’m trying to offer. What about you? What are you providing to people? Where do you go from here?