Covered wagon breakdowns? Rough terrain? Blinding snow storms? Robberies? Indian attacks? Is that what we’re talking about in the twenty-first century? No, but we are talking about venturing into the unknown against the odds of our culture like a rapidly changing technology, a polarized society, generation gaps, racial hatred, war, class distinctions, homelessness, postmodernism, suicide, school shootings, climate change, gender dysphoria, dwindling resources, retribution versus healing … no wonder why so many of the younger generation are checking out and older people are becoming one with their La-Z-Boy recliners, waiting out the end.
So how does one become a pioneer in the twenty-first century? Who is a pioneer today? One who faces all these scary realities with courage and a smile on their face. One with a plan and a destination. One with hope and a reason. One who feels as if they are alive for this. And one for whom a specific task has presented itself. God has called them to do something. They may know what it is or they may not know what it is yet, but they are ready, and they are staying ready either way.
Over the next few days we are going to look at some biblical examples of pioneers whom God called into the unknown for a specific task and see what we can learn from them. Like Abigail, who is one of our favorite women of the Bible here at the Catch (1 Samuel 25). In a rare instance of a woman calling a man to task, Abigail stopped David in his tracks just when he was about to exact retribution upon her foolish husband and all his male servants by doing something he would regret the rest of his life. She also reminded him of his calling and position as a future king. He could have begun his plan for retribution right then and there by taking her life, but he heard her, and responded by honoring her, and blessing her for what she had done. That made her a pioneer in any age for taking unprecedented action in calling David to a higher road.
What unprecedented action is God asking you to take today?
John Fischer The Catch 
Hi John,
I know this isn’t the kind of pioneering you are speaking of but I had a lady in my church who passed away in the 80’s. She was in her mid 90’s when she died. Anyway, Selma left Indian Territory (the future Oklahoma) in a covered wagon and made her way to California. What a joy she was to Central Baptist for decades!!
I wasn’t sure what to say on this one and had to think about this for a few moments. I believe when I feel anxiety real bad and my medication helps some and so does therapy I guess think about the grand children and the stories one can tell as they grow up. Talking to them about Jesus so they get to know him and what he has done for all of us for so long and this will continue forever. Passing knowledge from one generation to another makes you a pioneer.
I am an unwilling pioneer in this process of grief. After almost a year, I know getting better is not on the horizon until I stand before Jesus and am reunited with my Bobby. It will only become bearable. I know I am not alone in this wilderness; our number is countless, But I know I am alone in a crowd. Alone with Jesus in my unique journey. I am coming back into my gifts with strength and purpose, but am brought low by the sight of a cereal on sale I would have purchased for him. I am part of a group of friends who have suffered loss, and we share tears at the loss, and laughter over the memories we share. We have learned, and continue to learn through our experiences, how to minister in a ministry we never wanted to belong to. So I am, we are, following the lead of One who shares our sorrow. I, we, fall and wander off the path, but He is ever faithful to pick us up, point us in the right direction, and wait patiently for us to catch up.
God is surely taking you through some difficult times but there are reasons that have yet to reveal themselves. Keep moving ever forward. There is so much ahead.