Last night, while browsing through clubs/organizations of an upcoming potential academic endeavor, I found myself becoming more and more excited as I jotted down (when it was said and done) 15 clubs/organizations of serious interest. Yes, fifteen..as in, future me would attempt to join each and every one. And this isn't new. Ever since I can remember, I've been involved in and had a passion for many diverse things (my poor Mom & Grams). This even continued through my college years and has only recently shown any signs of slowing down (full-time work and grad school doesn't allow for much else).
I mean.. Being real, if I could be a dancer, boxer, musician/songwriter, actress, architect, archeologist, home renovator, carpenter, rock climber, mountain hiker, MMA superstar, kayaker, scuba diver, pilot, figure skater, snowboarder, gymnast, surfer/beach shop owner, professional landscaper, Nascar driver, homicide investigator, world traveler, journalist, Sea World dolphin trainer, wild life safari guide, National Geographic photographer, U.S. Deputy Marshal, DoS Foreign Affairs Diplomatic Officer, CIA Intelligence Collection Analyst, DoD Military Strategy Coordinator, abuse shelter operator, FBI Linguist, President's Interagency Task Force To Monitor & Combat Human Trafficking-Representative, ASL Interpreter......I would. (My head ladies & gentlemen).
As I'm lying in bed pondering why God made me this way (after all, life would be much less stressful if I had decided on/could be content with a "normal" career), I begin to question where He wants me to go, what He wants me to do, and how He wants me to go about doing it (frequent requests of mine). For the past six or so months, I have been dedicated to seeking God's will for my life more genuinely than ever before, wholeheartedly praying, "God, I don't want to do anything by my hands that isn't of Your spirit. Strip away fruitless endeavors that I so willfully chase."
And this is where God stopped me.
By laying this on my heart:
"Though you are incapable of understanding it, do you trust My Word and believe in the promise of an eternity with Me?"
"Of course."
"Consider eternity. You have ETERNITY to do all the things you can dream of here on this earth and much more that you can't comprehend yet [At this point my mind begins to hope this includes things like cloud flying]... What you do not have is an eternity to share my love with the lost here on earth."
Wow.
Humbled.
God has chosen to lay this on my heart (and no, it wasn't literal voice dialogue..although that would be legit if God spoke with his big God voice)...for a very important reason. In today's world, we get pulled in a million different directions, and it's great to follow passions/talents/hobbies/careers (esp. considering God created us with a purpose involving these things), but what is SO MUCH MORE important is witnessing and showing love and service on a daily basis wherever God has placed you RIGHT NOW, step by step, moment by moment. This is how you live a life of furthering God's kingdom, fulfilling the ultimate purpose of our existence here on this earth. Days here are numbered. All of the answers I have been seeking from God, and this simple truth is what I receive:
It's not what you do here that counts...it's who follows you out when you leave.
Scriptures from a Bible story I heard many times growing up struck me in a new way a few days ago. I posted it on my bulletin board to remind me daily, but it wasn't until last night that God's message came full circle:
"You are busy and worried about many things. But one thing is needed." -Jesus.
(Luke 10:41-42)
