Today's Quote

Sent to me by Real Simple magazine: "The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want." (Ben Stein)

What a novel idea! :) Before we can take any action, we first need to decide what action needs to be taken. How fitting that this should be the quote-of-the-day on the day I decide to start my blog, Somewhere Along the Road. I believe life is a journey, and we never know what will be around the next bend. But we should not wander aimlessly. In the past, I have been so concerned about finding the ONE thing God has as His will for my life, that I marked time, waiting for God's will to be revealed to me. I didn't want to take a step outside His will and so I did nothing.

I now have a different view of God's will. I don't think that there is ONE thing God has for us to do. Like the catechism says, the chief end of man is "to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." God does spell out His will a few times in the Bible. 1 Thess. 4:3: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." 1 Thess. 5:18: "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Peter 2:15: "For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men." Of course there are many other verses that tell us how to live. But none of those verses say, "The will of God is for you to become a doctor." "The will of God is for you to buy this house." I think God's will is for us to be sanctified, to be conformed to the image of His Son, to love God and to love others. If those are the aims of our lives, we cannot be outside His will.

What a freeing thought! It's not up to me to figure out the perfect path to take; I'm already on the only road God has for me! Now I can make some decisions based on what I like. As long as my chief end is to glorify God, my littler goals will be in line with God's will. Now making decisions is not my strong point. But hopefully having alleviated the pressure of having to find the ONE thing God has for me will get my creative juices flowing. So step 1: Decide what I want. :)

I love these two verses:

• Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
• Matt. 22:36-40 "'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"

May these be the theme of my life.