Last week the queen’s ship landed on Tatooine to find a replacement part, while David went to the battlefield to see his brothers. The second part of the story reveals the unexpected journeys—Qui-Gon finds Anakin, David takes the first step into his destiny.
In the Star Wars movies, Qui-Gon had a particular fascination with finding the one who would bring balance to the force. This fictional story depicts amazing similarities to the Old Testament story of the shepherd boy David.
Qui-Gon minded his own business doing the work of a Jedi knight. He had nothing to do with the queen’s ship needing repair or landing on the planet to have it repaired. Qui-Gon was following Jedi orders to protect the queen.
David had nothing to do with Israel’s war with the Philistines. He was following his father’s orders to take care of the sheep. Like Qui-Gon, he did not ask to take a trip to the battlefield. Both characters went because it was the assigned task.
In other words, each man was doing what they knew to do, the way they were trained to do it. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
This is often how unexpected journeys begin. You are not on a quest to discover something. You are just placing one foot in front of the other doing what you have always done, the way you were taught.
Qui-Gon did not have a prepared speech when he found out they did not have the money to purchase the needed part. Nor did David have a prepared response when he heard the giant’s words. Each one spoke from their heart. Of course, the actor was reading the script, but the character was speaking from past experiences. David, too spoke from experience when he heard Goliath’s words. The God who cared for him in the past will take care of him today.
Neither of these men got up that morning thinking they would begin an unexpected journey, but their hearts were open to accepting the unexpected. This is important to realize. Had David’s heart been closed to the prompting of God the Holy Spirit, he could have missed a divine appointment with destiny.
A close personal relationship prepares your heart to be open to God’s unexpected. In one place in the Bible, they are noted as “suddenly.” I believe humanity is living in a time when a close personal relationship is vital because it prepares you for the “suddenly” of God’s unexpected journey. Things are happening at an accelerated pace, which means you will miss out if preparation is not already in place.
Global events seem to overshadow the multifaceted crisis’ America is facing. The hour is growing late, and the time for action is now. A close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is vital in this time of humanity’s existence.