I’ve never had much use for Pascal’s Wager because I have never doubted the existence of God. Perhaps I was born with an extra dose of faith or reason or both. I have, however, doubted God’s ways and plans. I find myself behaving like Jonah. God always seems to be drop-kicking me somewhere and I go rather reluctantly, wondering what the hell He’s thinking. Such is the case again here in Turkmenistan. I certainly went reluctantly. I wanted Eastern Europe, and was told I would be sent there until the day before my invitation packet came in the mail. I look ahead, knowing I have two years here and knowing the restrictions imposed by Big Brother and wonder why I’m here.
Still, if experience has taught me anything, it’s that if I just stick with it long enough, pushing through my doubt, I will come out the other side better for it. That was the case when I reluctantly accepted the youth pastor position and it was the case when I grudgingly moved to Nevada to teach. Both ended up being enormously beneficial and rewarding experiences I never would have had if I had stayed in my comfort zone and told God the big “screw you” I was thinking.
So I leave you with Mead’s Wager: It is better to live as though God knows what He’s doing and risk discomfort than to live as though He doesn’t and risk never evolving.
And in case you were wondering, rounding out the top three are Jonathan Swift and Michael Palin (no relation to Sarah).