There is a story told about the first visit of a guide dog for the blind to America.

The dog with its owner was at a press conference in New York and one of the reporters wanted to see the dog at work.

They took the man and his dog to the edge of a busy highway and across they went.

When the man reached the other side there was no-one there and it wasn’t until a few minutes later that one of the reporters reached him.

The blind man asked why he had been so long and he said he had had to go two blocks down to find a safe place to cross!

I thought it was a good story about faith and stepping out into the unknown. The blind man put his trust in the dog and it led him safely across the busy road.

Those who had no dog in which to trust were less willing to make the journey from one side to the other.

The Christian faith is all about stepping out into the unknown. In our lives as Christians it is our faith in God which gives us confidence to step out into new and challenging situations.

It is also that faith in God which sustains us when difficult situations threaten to overwhelm us.

In each step of our lives God goes before us to lead, and behind us to support and encourage.

As Psalm 48:14 reminds us ‘This is our God forever and ever, He will be our guide forever’.

  • The Rev Andrew Webb, Christians Together in Lunesdale