I collected stories about how faith kept people moving forward and put them together as a devotional for this Lenten season. 
You can download the entire devotional here:
https://www.mosaicpearland.org/s/lent.pdf

Rev. Joe Kim
Bothell UMC
Bothell, WA

I am blessed to be the dad to two amazing children, a five-year old and a two-year old. Both are full of laughter and love, creative and curious, and it has been fun to be part of their journeys. I would be lying, though, if I said that these past nine months were easy. My spouse and I have been trying to find rhythm in our work schedules and our roles as parents and as a couple, and we have navigated the difficulties of a child starting kindergarten learning everything virtually and online.

One of the things we have tried to do is to create time for the whole family to be together, and we have found joy in watching the Disney movie, Frozen II. We love the characters, we know the songs, we have even watched the behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the movie.

One of my personal favorite parts of the movie is the song sung by Idina Menzel and Aurora, Into the Unknown. This song takes place early in the movie as one of the protagonists, Elsa, finds herself hearing a melody calling out to her. She sings, “There’s a thousand reasons I should go about my day/ And ignore your whispers which I wish would go away…” And later, “I’m afraid of what I’m risking if I follow you/ Into the unknown.”

I don’t know about you, but I feel like these past nine months have been nothing but the unknown. When the church I serve made the decision to go virtual, it was unknown when we would be able to gather again in person; it is still unknown. It is unknown when schools will re-open, when vaccines will be distributed, when traveling will be safe again, when we can meet with friends and family safely…

And yet, through it all, I wonder if God is inviting us to lean into the unknown. I’m reminded of the story in Genesis 12, when God calls Abram. Scripture tells us that “the Lord says to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” And then, Abram goes. He leaves everything he knows behind and trusts God into the unknown.

I love this story because it reminds me of a moment when God made a covenant with us, when God chose to be in relationship with us. Despite all that is happening in our world today, perhaps God is calling us too, to trust in God’s voice and lean into the unknown.