It began with a simple, low-prep opening activity to the Bible story, “Abraham Followed God” for Kindergarten Bible school. Blindfold Teacher Wil and ask a few kids to give him directions to his promised coffee on the window ledge in our room.

It was a fine activity, until I thought it through a bit more on Sunday morning. You see, unlike adults' aversion to volunteering, I knew I would have 30 eager volunteers wanting to give directions to Teacher Wil. The question was how could I involve all of them? Then I walked into the preschool resource room for inspiration, and spotted the answer clearly labeled on a bin: foam hopscotch squares.

Back in the room, I randomly placed the squares on the floor. When it was time for large group and the activity, I grouped two-three kids around each square, the teachers strategically placed themselves between the squares, and Teacher Wil tied the blindfold over his eyes.

I stood by one of the squares and explained that when I stood by your square, it was your turn to guide Teacher Wil to the next square and number. They could say go straight, turn right, go back two steps and so on. We wanted Wil to get to his coffee at the last square.

It turned out to be a game of the blind leading the blind, as all the children shouted directions, clueless to right or left or straight—or the chairs until Wil crashed into them. We teachers added to the chorus, “Only give directions when it’s your turn. Teacher Wil can’t hear you.”

Despite the chaos, I am happy to report that Wil made it to his coffee without injury.

For a people who walk by faith, there are times we walk around more like the blind leading the blind, stumbling in the chaos that surrounds us. Unlike Abraham, who “went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8), we want to know where we’re going. This uncertainty makes it easier to listen to other voices who promise to deliver the tangible results we want now, not later as we trek to a distant land. It can be tough to hear the right voice to follow when there are so many other voices shouting well-meaning but incorrect instructions.

Full disclosure here: I can handle the external chaos; it’s the loose ends in my life that I want tied up and neatly packaged. But what if those loose ends aren’t tied to the results I want, but tied, say to a shepherd’s staff that comforts me in the shadow of death. And what if that staff belongs to a very Good Shepherd who calls his own sheep by name, leads them to green pastures and still waters—who lays his life down for those sheep.

His is the only voice we need to hear and heed—the voice who calls us to follow him and his goodness and mercy all the days of our lives.

The Master has called us; the road may be dreary,
and dangers and sorrows are strewn on the track;
but God's Holy Spirit shall comfort the weary;
we follow the Savior and cannot turn back;
The Master has called us: though doubt and temptation
may compass our journey, we cheerfully sing:
"press onward, look upward," thru much tribulation;
the children of Zion must follow their King.
“The Master Hath Come”, verse two, Sarah Doudney