Taillights \u00a9 Billy Kangas 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>Lately, I\u2019ve been reflecting on what I might call the spirituality of taillights<\/em>.<\/p>\nFor much of my life, I\u2019ve focused on cultivating the spirituality of headlights<\/em>. That is\u2014the desire to discern where I\u2019m going. Headlight spirituality is rooted in faith and hope: a belief that if you cling to the right vision, trust God\u2019s promises, and stay attuned to His activity, you\u2019ll be able to navigate your life\u2019s direction\u2014and at times, help guide those journeying with you.<\/p>\nThis is a vital way of understanding our walk with God. It\u2019s how we move into our vocation. In our early years, we often travel alongside many others\u2014family, mentors, peers. Growing up means learning to steer our own path, take the turns life presents, and, eventually, assume responsibility for those entrusted to our care on the road of life.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s another kind of spirituality worth developing: the spirituality of taillights<\/em>.<\/p>\nThis emerges when we witness someone moving forward on their own journey\u2014apart from us. And that requires a different kind of faith and hope. It can look like:<\/p>\n
\n- Watching children gradually step into independence.<\/li>\n
- Transitioning careers and entrusting your work and legacy to those who will carry it forward.<\/li>\n
- Surrendering a loved one into the hands of God after death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Each of these moments asks us to release a measure of control over where the vehicle is headed. It invites us into a posture of grace: to observe, with love and trust, the unfolding of lives, communities, and missions that once journeyed closely with us.<\/p>\n
Headlights help us lead. Taillights teach us to let go.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lately, I\u2019ve been reflecting on what I might call the spirituality of taillights. For much of my life, I\u2019ve focused on cultivating the spirituality of headlights. That is\u2014the desire to discern where I\u2019m going. Headlight spirituality is rooted in faith and hope: a belief that if you cling to the right vision, trust God\u2019s promises, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1678,"featured_media":5057,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86,89],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-photos"],"yoast_head":"\n
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