Great Expectations

I’ve got to admit that over my life I’ve had a problem with expectations. An even bigger problem with great expectations. My reasoning could be summed up in one word: disappointment. I don’t like it. Never have. In fact, one of the dumber quotes I used to parrot was: “Expect nothing, and you will never be disappointed.”

One problem with that kind of thinking is that it makes us Puddleglums. You know, the character in the Chronicles of Narnia’s The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis. Puddleglum the Marshwiggle can best be described by his answer to the children who asked his help in finding the prince:

“It stands to reason we’re not likely to get very far on a journey to the North, not at this time of year, with the winter coming on soon and all. And an early winter, too, by the look of things. But you mustn’t let that make you downhearted. Very likely, what with enemies, and mountains, and rivers to cross, and losing our way, and next to nothing to eat, and sore feet, we’ll hardly notice the weather. And if we don’t get far enough to do any good, we may get far enough not to get back in a hurry.”

There’s a fellow who’s not likely to be disappointed. He didn’t seem to cherish any hopes for the venture to begin with, and he certainly didn’t hold out any hope to his fellow travelers. The interesting thing is, Puddleglum is the most reliable, the most faithful creature in the story, besides Aslan Himself. He is good through and through, and capable of the most noble heroics… he just can’t face the future with confidence and cheerfulness. He has no expectations – great or small – except maybe the expectation that all will be hard and unpleasant.

So here we are at FAC, beginning a journey into uncharted waters. We are prayerful and faithful. But are we also Puddleglums? Do we expect bad weather and enemies and losing our way? Are we spreading the feeling that this is going to be a long and arduous process with a dubious outcome at best? Do we say we are only being realistic, as we cast shadows over the terrain ahead?

There’s a far better way to avoid disappointment and disillusionment, and that’s to trust God. To trust Him with a confidence that throws its entire weight on Him. To trust Him implicitly, not expecting Him to do specifically this or that (find us a senior pastor in two months, start a spike in attendance, keep all one thousand of us in wholehearted agreement through the process). He may do those things… but that’s not where our expectation should lie.

We’ve got to trust His heart, believe in His intentions for us, both as individuals and as a church family. Only then can we trust His plans and His timing and His choices. And we’ve got to trust with a faith that isn’t tentative or wishy-washy. With the faith of a kid on a trampoline, who throws himself onto the springy canvas with abandonment, and pushes off with all his might, soaring higher and higher with each jump.

No fear. No Puddleglums. Just trust.