••••••• INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS •••••••

In recent weeks most of my conversations with people seemed to raise the question “What next?” Maybe that’s because it is the time of the year when kids begin to plan for graduation and the excitement of summer vacations. Or perhaps, it is the conversations of proud parents who anticipate high school graduations or teenagers looking forward to the adventures of college. Or maybe springtime brings about conversations of many such journeys – back home, away from home, new jobs, new places and experiences.

Ambivalence – that seems to be the keyword. Every journey, every transition, every walk down memory lane is rooted in ambivalence: the joy of graduation mixed with the grief of a child moving out; the pride and excitement of a new job shadowed by the realization that it involves moving to a new city. Life is full of ambivalence.

Paul seems to understand this condition quite well. He says in 2 Corinthians 1:17, “Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say ‘yes, yes’ and ‘no, no’? Our humanness causes us to vacillate in how we feel, act, make decisions and sometimes even in our faith. This is radically different from a God who is faithful and steadfast. We make our plans by human standards, filled with ambivalence, wondering if God has a plan for our lives, and at the same time, question if God’s plan is good enough!”

As we journey through life, encounter trials, celebrate successes, and deal with the mundane details of life, it is right, every now and then, that we pause and take inventory of ourselves. Where are we in our faith journey? Is our faith vital, dynamic, or have we lost some of the zeal, some of the grounding that we so desire? Are we weary of always trying to do what is right? Are we simply burned out because our burden seems greater than the faith that we can muster? Do we need to perform some maintenance work, do some tuning up, to keep ourselves in good working condition?

If you find yourself answering “yes” to these last few questions, read the book of James this week. The main thrust of book of James is to explain to us what faith is and how it works. In the process, may your faith be revitalized.

Prayer: O God, in my journey through life, help me to remember that You direct my path and You know the end from the beginning. Renew my faith for the journey ahead. Amen.

 

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