My friend Julie tucked this book into my bag after church when I (Jody) was deep in conversation with someone else.  Scott caught sight of the title and joked, “I hope that’s not prophetic about our future!”  I smiled my thanks to Julie and thought, “When am I going to read that?  I have NO spare time.”

But a week and a half later, a meeting was cancelled and I had an unexpected hour.  I had been very anxious that morning at all the uncertainties in our lives.  My emotional roller coaster felt very out-of-control.  So, I picked up the book and took a break.

On page two this paragraph jumped out at me:

A part of us feels as if something is spiritually wrong with us if we experience circumstantial uncertainty.  But that is precisely what Jesus promised us when we are born of His spirit and start following Him (John 3:8). Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time.  And I know that is unsettling.  But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name:  adventure.

Well!  Hmmm.  Adventures ARE supposed to be unpredictable and uncertain, aren’t they?  It’s normal to feel unsettled and sometimes terrified.  My part is to trust God and enjoy the ride, ignoring the inner voice that protests, “But I don’t know what is going to happen!”

Romans 8:15 says it well:  “This resurrection life you received from God is…adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

The book’s title comes from the Celtic Christians’ name for the Holy Spirit:  a wild goose.  Batterson writes wisely and well, and I was greatly encouraged and challenged.

Here’s one more gem (on page 58):

The key to spiritual growth is developing healthy and whole routines.  We call them spiritual disciplines.  But once the routine becomes routine, we need to disrupt it.  Why?  Because sacred routines become empty rituals when we do them out of left-brain memory instead of right-brain imagination….One of the greatest dangers we face spiritually is learning how and forgetting why.

Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God, by Mark Batterson