I should have trusted my gut on this one, but as I often do, I managed to out-think myself. In the planning and initial research phase for our current "Dear Church" series at Avalon, I was struck with an odd thought.  But I quickly consulted a source (the Bible) and eventually assured myself that I was mistaken.

Well, I'm here to say that I made a mistake in thinking that I was mistaken. So now that I've both set myself straight and thoroughly confused all of you, allow me to continue.

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.  So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.  During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.  (Acts 16:6-10)

As we started prepping for this new series, I began to wonder how many of these 7 churches Paul had visited, or even had helped to start.  The answer is, not many.  Ephesus was a fairly frequent stop, but then, it was also the largest port city outside of Rome herself.  Travel across the Aegean almost demanded a stop there.  And it's likely that Paul may have visited Laodicea, for he mentions them in his letters a few times.  But outside of those two, he never made it there.

Many of us church folk are at least vaguely familiar with this "Macedonian Call".   Paul and posse were making plans to travel into "Asia".  Traditional understanding sometimes seems to hint that they were hoping to move upward through what is now northern Turkey and the Caucasus.  But I think we may have missed the boat here.  The "province of Asia" was comprised of the western Turkish seaboard- not the modern day understanding of Asia, the continent.  And that province's major cities?  Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Why was Paul instructed to skip over this area?  We'll never know for certain.  But I just found it quite encouraging to know that, even when it seemed like there was a missed opportunity there, God still knew what was going on.  And instead of Paul visiting or writing a letter, these churches got a letter from Jesus Christ himself.

See...because sometimes, when God closes a door, it's because He has a much better plan in mind.  And it doesn't have to involve a window.