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Thank you for visiting. Please feel free to comment on any of my blogs. Much of my discussion is political in nature - civil discussion only please! Enjoy!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Have You Ever Asked Yourself...


Is this all there is?

We all wonder sometimes how we impact our world. Is my impact helpful? Are people better off for having known me? Are my daily life, my priorities, my hopes, my dreams pleasing to God? Should I be doing something different, or should I be doing what I do in a different way?

We tend to forget that we are where we are for a reason. We touch people in some way each and every day. As we ponder our future with it's possibility for life changes, let us not forget about the people we impact today. Let's celebrate those opportunities! God has a plan, and that plan is coming to fruition, even as I write this post and you read it.

Take me for example: I work in corporate America. I also enjoy writing my blog, even though I don’t write regularly. I enjoy public speaking. I think it would be cool to publish a book – a book that people would find helpful and inspirational in some way. Could I make a living doing these things? Should I even try, or is this the proverbial mid-life crisis finally knocking at my door?

One of my favorite promises from God is recorded in the book of Isaiah:

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” (Isaiah 30:19-22)

I stand firmly on that promise. At 51 I see lots of road in my rearview mirror and, God willing, I have much road yet to travel. No matter where we are in life, we all see that road, don't we?

Be open to change, but remember also that, right now, you are exactly where God wants you to be. Honor Him by making the most of today as you continue to explore the possibilities for future change. I see today's opportunities with a fresh set of eyes. With that clear vision I will explore the pursuit of my dreams. God will show me which road to take. Where is He guiding you?

2 comments:

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  2. As we enter a new time, I enjoyed reading your take on our situation as a people and a nation. Without a rehash of the past, I am glad to find you and yours well. I felt drawn to comment due to the relationship we once had. I can not think of many to which I have felt as close.

    Each one of us explores this life in his own way, often changing our relationships with our selves and others. In our case I find that my friend's path of evangelical and politically extremism was not something that added to my life. I never thought of you as stupid or dumb: as you may think. I was however gutted by your treatment of my relationship, I admit that lead me to make remarks i regret.

    As you basically commented in this post, I find this an exhilarating time to be alive. We daily become closer to the founders dreams. Despite government shut downs by extremists- we are becoming a more rational, scientific, representative and equal society.

    In my HS Sunday school classes, we spend much time on not only who we are as Catholics, but how we have become these people. We discuss how our cumulative experience and knowledge have all contributed to form the us of today! We in fact often discuss our view of God and the way our Church experiences faith in a more communal way, versus a more personal association as I experienced through what I would call a more evangelical approach. This is evidenced by our belief in social justice, social programs and universal health care. It is fascinating to study American history whilst juxtaposing our religious movements. I find it impossible not to draw conclusions.

    My church is not complete and neither is my country. Neither are the documents which inform both. The Church has its mechanisms of change as does our country. Christ gave St. Peter the necessary authority to "tweak" his creation, even making experience equal to that of scripture. In just such a way: and not due to the Church's example, our country was founded in such a way that experience could be incorporated into the fabric of our country as we developed. Imagine the brilliance of the ability to imagine future change; changes we have lived through and prospered from 17th century men imagining a system by which we could endure all via the process of legislation, adjudication and amendment. The complete disaster of the Articles of Confederation, blessed our founders with the certainty that our survival would be ensured by checks, balances and a strong central government.

    We are all guided, by God and his manifestations. I believe we all see truth, thus as we seek truth we necessarily pursue the Creator. As Paul Tillich declared Jesus and truth one, seeking either leads us to Him, and with luck new and helpful thoughts.

    Despite reading a great deal of your posts, dispensationalism as an approach, combined with an inerrant view of scripture, in my belief limits truth and the seeking thereof. Logically we must by fiat lose some connection with our Creator. The beauty of American and most of our world today is that we may pursue truth as we find necessary. It rings strange that such a brilliant fellow would limit himself so.

    I believe that all men can change, as did our Savior, e.g., Saul. I can always call you friend yet never be close with a person that views God's creation so narrowly. Nor can I forgive the very real harm your limited views do my family and friends I know it is without malice so I forgive you as I hope you forgive some of my comments, that were far worse as I did feel malice when made.

    Thank you for your time and again my apologizes. I do not ask my Creator for anything, however I do find it to be OK, to pray that all is as it should be. I can hope that means your forgiveness for my rude and terrible remarks in the past.


    Peace
    Troy

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