I’ve always been a movie buff and I am a big fan of those Steven Spielberg directed, Indiana Jones movies. My favorite one is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In it the Harrison Ford character is in pursuit of the Holy Grail, the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper.

Near the end of the film, Indy has successfully passed two of three death defying challenges that he found in his father’s (played by Sean Connery) grail diary. In the first, the breath of God, young Dr. Jones was wise enough to heed the clue, “only the penitent man will pass.” It is then he humbly drops to his knees just missing being decapitated by a giant blade swinging above his head.

The second challenge involves the word of God. Jones needs to figure out which of the alphabet stones he should step on to correctly spell the name of God. A misstep in spelling Jehovah and he would plunge to his death.

The third challenge Indy faces, the path of God, is a giant chasm between two rock walls. There is no possible way he could come close to jumping across. It is in that moment that Indiana Jones recognizes what he is facing, a leap of faith.

He can’t trust his eyes. He can’t trust his instincts. He can’t trust his knowledge. He realizes that if he is going to reach the Holy Grail and save his father’s life, he needs to step out with courage, conviction, and trust that God will provide a way where there seems to be no way. Jones takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and steps out in faith to find the firm footing of the path of God, an invisible bridge beneath his feet.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

In these difficult days of rapidly rising inflation, political polarization, rampant crime, and the seemingly ever-present fear of whatever contagion is next, we as leaders in the church of Jesus Christ need to put into practice Proverbs 3:5-6 and face head on these troubles and others like diminishing church attendance.

In your personal quest for the Holy Grail of hearing Christ’s words, “Well done good and faithful pastor”, take in a deep breath of the Spirit of God and humbly seek his direction. Trust in the word of God and lean on it for understanding amid life’s challenges. With courage and conviction step out in faith believing that God will make your path straight as you act out every day this great adventure like the hero of the faith you were cast to be.