“And now Lord, and with your help, I shall become myself.” –Kierkegaard
I’m in an interesting season of life right now. The kind where I’m asking, “What next?”
I realize this question can be asked in a variety of intonations: fear, hope, exhaustion, or frustration. Mine is hopeful.
And I’m also trying to determine what to do next with my hopeful “what next?”
A few years ago, I attended a vocational retreat with Potter’s Inn. Vocation (from the Latin word vocaré) means “voice.” To hear that voice, one must listen. At one point in the workshop, the leaders encouraged us to think back to what we most loved when we were eight years old.
I loved reading, writing, and teaching. (Well, teaching Sunday School to my dolls that is!) And I loved Anne of Green Gables. I wanted to be Anne of Green Gables. After all, Anne writes and Anne teaches. She also has a fiery passion that can’t be contained.
I want to listen to my own fiery passion. Too many times, I’ve set it aside or stuffed it down. However, it takes that delight to carve out a life of being the person God created me to be.
I’m not talking about a job. Those come and go. In less than two weeks, my job is going. What I’m talking about is a way of life that is in-tune with knowing God’s best for me. It is listening to what makes my heart “sing” and then acting out of that deep gladness.
This week, I have someone helping me work on my résumé. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I can’t help thinking about how incomplete that document will be when it’s done. It can’t possibly hold all I am or all I may be in the future, with God’s help.
I realize this question can be asked in a variety of intonations: fear, hope, exhaustion, or frustration. Mine is hopeful.
And I’m also trying to determine what to do next with my hopeful “what next?”
A few years ago, I attended a vocational retreat with Potter’s Inn. Vocation (from the Latin word vocaré) means “voice.” To hear that voice, one must listen. At one point in the workshop, the leaders encouraged us to think back to what we most loved when we were eight years old.
I loved reading, writing, and teaching. (Well, teaching Sunday School to my dolls that is!) And I loved Anne of Green Gables. I wanted to be Anne of Green Gables. After all, Anne writes and Anne teaches. She also has a fiery passion that can’t be contained.
I want to listen to my own fiery passion. Too many times, I’ve set it aside or stuffed it down. However, it takes that delight to carve out a life of being the person God created me to be.
I’m not talking about a job. Those come and go. In less than two weeks, my job is going. What I’m talking about is a way of life that is in-tune with knowing God’s best for me. It is listening to what makes my heart “sing” and then acting out of that deep gladness.
This week, I have someone helping me work on my résumé. I’m grateful for the opportunity, but I can’t help thinking about how incomplete that document will be when it’s done. It can’t possibly hold all I am or all I may be in the future, with God’s help.
I am not alone in this season. God is with me. He saw the innocent little girl dressing up in long skirts more than two decades ago. He sees me now. Paying attention to my delights brings Him delight. He wants me to know myself more because the more I know of the self He created, the more I will know Him.
Knowing Him all of my days is the greatest life I can imagine. While the road ahead of me might not always be marked with blooming white trees, there is a Voice behind me, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
2 comments:
Love this! I am excited to see where He leads next. This is such a rich season for you in so many ways. Praying He refreshes you along the way since I know the journey the last few years (work wise at least) has been taxing. Many blessings!
Beautifully expressed. Deeply understood. Prayerfully conveyed. Blessings.
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