Throughout my life, mostly in my married life, I have done so many different things, moved SO many times and changed the course of direction that I was headed in a million times. You see, when I set out to do something, a project, a new career field, a ministry opportunity, I was really excited and I had every intention of doing just that thing for a very long time. But somehow, something always happened along the way; it's not that I "flaked out" of the situation, things just sooner or later shifted/changed and fell through.
People have often "criticized" me for not having a clear direction with what I want to do in my life, or the fact that my plans often change. (Like I planned on them changing!!) But through all of my experiences in life, I have learned many different skills and valuable lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I realized that God had a reason and purpose for everything I've been through. I have also learned what I want and don't want to do in life. Now, I am not saying that it's not good to have some clear direction and obtainable goals for your life, but I am saying that it's okay to not always know where your going in life. Don't bank on the fact that when you set out to do something that it will turn out just as you had imagined it to. Having that mind set will lead to unfulfilled expectations. Having an open mind and heart is essential to this crazy journey called life. Let me quote from a book that I've been reading called "Wild at Heart" written by John Eldridge, to explain what I mean. When I read this, my life (physical and spiritual) made so much sense!!
"The spiritual life cannot be made suburban," said Howard Macey. "It is always frontier and we who live in it must accept and even rejoice that it remains untamed." The greatest obstacle to realizing our dreams is the false self's hatred of mystery. That's a problem, you see, because mystery is essential to adventure. More than that, mystery is the heart of the universe and the God who made it. The most important aspects of any man's world - his relationship with his God and with the people in his life, his calling, the spiritual battles he'll face - every one of them is fraught with mystery. But that is not a bad thing; it is a joyful, rich part of reality and essential to our soul's thirst for adventure. As Oswald Chambers says,
Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathmatical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing . . . Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.
(My Utmost for His Highest)
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Gil Bailie
I now know that I needn't worry about all of the different paths that my life has followed. Each one of them has lead me to a greater understanding about myself and about who God is, and how gracious and deep His love runs for me; that He would cause me to adventure on all of these rough, exciting and unknown journeys in life. At the end of every path I have gained at least one valuable thing . . . Character. - Nikki Caldon