Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from Chase the Goose, which is now available for purchase from the Threads store.
Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit: An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger and an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I can’t think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Holy Spirit through life. The truth is: Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. I know that’s unsettling, but circumstantial uncertainty goes by another name—adventure.
Have we clipped the wings of the Wild Goose and settled for something less than God intended? Are we missing out on what God created us to experience?
I realize the old adage “wild goose chase” typically refers to a purposeless endeavor without a defined destination. But chasing the Wild Goose is different. While the promptings of the Wild Goose may seem pointless at the time, God is constantly working His plan behind the scenes. If you chase the Wild Goose, you’ll find yourself in places you could never have imagined along paths you never knew existed.
Have you ever gotten stressed out trying to determine the will of God for your life? We try to determine God’s will like we try to solve puzzles, but often the will of God is neither linear nor logical. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God declares:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways … For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
I think it’s only fair that we post a “Wild Goose Warning” at the beginning of this study: Nothing is more unnerving or disorienting than passionately pursuing God. In good conscience, I can’t promise you safety or certainty, but I can promise that chasing the Wild Goose will be anything but boring. The sooner we come to terms with that spiritual reality, the more we will enjoy the journey.
Caged Christians
A few years ago, I visited the Gal