I have a detailed schedule sitting in my inbox for the coming four days. Every hour of my day is accounted for. Meetings are planned. Agendas agreed. Key participants notified. With the exception of three names, every place, individual, and subject is new.
I have no idea what is going to unfold.
I am meeting unknown people that come with internal nicknames. I have no idea who they are, but I already know they have a multiple names. I do not know if they will be my key allies or candidates for a move or terminate list. They have an announcement that I am coming. I am not sure what it said or how I am perceived.
The schedule has a list of locations in a new city. This is my first trip to Melbourne in any capacity. Today I looked through the glass at the headquarters building as we drove past. There are other buildings. They share the same characteristics. I do not know where they are. I have no preconceived image of furnishings. I do not know which floor I am going to. Even the direction they face is unknown.
Someone spent time working out an agenda on my behalf. While the subjects are interesting, I do not understand how they link with each other. Even their connection with the mandate that I am assuming is fuzzy.
I am walking into more than the unknown. I am walking into a world that I have been asked to lead. In many ways, it feels that I am part of a bigger plan that I do not understand. I could a character from an old story. Then the author noted that, “the rest of us had gone on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul.” (Acts 20.13) There was a plan then even as there is now.
It is crisp and cool outside, a lovely spring day. It is a good day to walk out into a new beginning. I may be blind. I know I am excited.
