Driving in Italy is quite a test for a visiting North American. Cars seem to be everywhere; no one seems to pay much attention to stop signs or traffic signals; motorcycles and scooters weave through the traffic at stop lights, to be first in line when the signal changes. Speed limits are ignored, streets are crowded, routes aren't marked, cars are small, and gas prices are exorbitant. Yet, you brave your way through, confident your very intimidation and trepidation are obvious to all, mistakenly marking you as yet another obnoxious American with no concern for local custom or desire to adapt to a foreign culture; while in reality you simply want to stay alive and avoid harm and embarrassment.
How strangely comforting to hear a veteran resident (almost, but not quite native, Jonathan Gilmore) say at a particularly confusing intersection, "What does one do here?"
Sometimes, even the locals are confused; sometimes, even the experts don't know.
We probably don't proclaim our doubts or confusion or quickly confess our own fears, but-at least in my case-we have them. We boldly press on, trusting that we aren't quite as confused as those around us. We eventually make a decision and move ahead, hoping it won't bring shame, harm, or confusion to others. But, if the truth were known, we sometimes don't have all the answers, either.
As Christians, we certainly know the One Who does have all the answers. And, as ministers of the Gospel, we are responsible to proclaim His truth and His ways to the confused, lost, and clueless all around us. But we must constantly remember that knowing Him and even proclaiming His ways is not entirely the same as knowing all His ways all the time. Sometimes it might even be an encouragement to someone near us to hear us confess, "I don't know what to do here. I've never confronted this before." Our admission that we don't have all the answers might be strangely comforting to someone even more confused than we. It might even drive us to spend more time with Him-you know, the One Who really does understand everything. And it might give us grace for our fellow Christians, and even fellow ministers, who may not have all the answers, either.
When you face a confusing situation, don't stop. That just creates more confusion for others. Move ahead. But exercise caution. And grace.
Sometimes even we experts must ask, "What does one do here?"