I need to start a list in the margin here of books you can't continue life without. One of them would be this one by Os Guinness, The Call.
I haven't yet read much of it, to be honest. Yet, it has that certain perspective that some authors give which has mighty potential to rock one's world.
Wow.
What if you chose to live with a single purpose? A noble determination to continue, unfaltering, towards whatever goal is before you? What if the tasks assigned to you today could be approached as a Divine Calling? I don't know about you, but that attitude would revolutionize my homeschooling and house keeping.
I was reading this part in the book about the explorer, Magellan, the guy who sailed around the world. He was just doing his job. He was zealous, and passionate, and he changed the world. What if you or I could change the world by doing well what is right before us?
What am I called to?
What is my purpose?
Today it is parenting. I haven't done much actual parenting this summer. I sort of feed them from time to time when their energy is depleted, and I send them back outside. Perhaps that approach could stand some revision.
Today it's also caring for Brittney and her home. That's not hard.
This author talks about priorities, also. Priorities come into focus when I know what my purpose is. Think about it. When I was in college, and a paper was due in the morning, all I did was write the paper until it was done. No partying, no friends over, no sleep. That's a singleness of purpose. If I came at my dishes in the same manner, I don't suppose there would be any in the sink!
"Choice" is a defining word in these Untied states. Women demand it, stores boast of it, the Internet grants it. It's not that great a thing, as Mr. Guinness points out. He says that it, "leads to a decrease in commitment and continuity." That's really true. If I don't like my job, I can get a different one. If my man is annoying, I can jump on Match.com and look for a better one. I can chose new clothes, a different house, more/no kids, any food I want....my choices are only limited by my imagination and my wallet.
This has a profound impact upon my worldview. It hurts my relationships. It even handicaps my faith.
I frequently pester God to either make choices for me, provide more palatable choices, or confirm my choices. Don't you?
What if contentment meant receiving what is before me with Thanksgiving? I get paralyzed by choices, if you want to know the truth.
Actually, that reminds me of something I am reading in another book. It talks about this sort of thing. The author there was saying something about how rather than asking God about all these specific details of my life (should I buy a Ford, or a Chevy? should I take this house, or that one?) Perhaps I should focus on aligning my heart with the Heart of God. I should focus on Being the sort of Person who is like Jesus, then good decisions would be a natural result. And I think that's probably got a lot of truth in it. The guy wasn't saying not to pray about stuff, he was saying not to get freaked out by decisions. I know people who do that; who will wait forever for some manner of confirmation from On High, meanwhile, their lives slip away, and they accomplish nothing.
So, now you don't need to read the 20th chapter of The Call. I am going to go read some more. Lemme know what you think of it, too.
3 comments:
Amen sister! You know how much I love making decisions. Let's all not make them together, wouldn't that be fun? We could all do what's right in front of us today and enjoy it. Kind of goes along with what we've been reading in Ecclesiastes doesn't it? My only problem is that you are not right in front of me today.
miss you!
Well you certainly said a mouthful! Choice is one of the banes of our culture. The more choices you have the less likely you will be to make the correct one! I usually find God's leading when there are no choices at all other than: will I do this or not?
And you should live each and everyday in thanksgiving! You never know when you will have spoken that last "I love you" to one of your boys. You have no idea what tomorrow holds. Today you can walk or sing or see the beauty of a sunset (and sun yet?). Tomorrow that may not be true. And tomorrow you might have to find something else to be joyous in before God!
If you are living your life as a Christian, as completely in the Spirit as one is able, it would be presumpuous to assume you are doing God's will and will avert disaster - without confirming that it will be in His will. This is the curse of pragmatism, doing something without full knowledge that is of God's will. And remember that whole pride issue as well, it comes with situations where one thinks they are completely in God's will. Questioning is always a firt step towards obedience. Fear is aways the first step towards wisdom. Pragmatism will always led to sin.
Known too many whom blindsided their ministries here.
In a philosophical sense, he is right though. If we could walk completely in faith, if we could not sin, if, if, if, if! But, we live in reality and will fail. The opposing approach is to believe that if something is of God, God will intervene in such a way that it will come to pass. Sometimes accomplishing absolutely nothing is exactly the activity God needs concerning an issue.
Of course, the question is also important. If you see someone about to be hit by a car - do you react to save them, say as it is in God's will, or watch and see if some else is doing something? Of course you attempt to rescue them (and witnessing to them later is always a great idea to!). Does God care what car you drive, where you live, what color your toes should be today? Probably not. But, then again maybe He does, if it leads to the ability to serve Him...........
Awesome! Great insight kjp!
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