"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is."
- Lao-tzu
While reading Leading with Soul and many of our other texts, the qoutes always have such powerful messages. The quote above speaks volumes about how we are to lead our lives and whom we should allow to lead.
I reflect on my undergrad years and the journey I had at the most religious school in America - UT (that's a jpke by the way!! ;-)). I realized I was struggling because I had my eye focused on a destination I had determined for myself since I was in third grade. It wasn't until I grew wise and discovered my journey is not about me and the destination I'd planned wasn't the destination God had for me. Once I learned to stop relying on my own logic and my own plans, began to humble myself, be still and let God lead (listening to my intuition), life began to take on a whole new meaning. Life wasn't necessarily easier, yet I began to have true joy and peace in my spirit because I knew my life was directed by God. I've learned to face my fears of not being in control and to keep my mind open to what God has for me.
Reading your blog this morning was a great way for me to start my day! I relate to what you are saying, in so many ways. (And not just because I am a fellow UT graduate!!) Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. Thank you for the invitation. As I was preparing my lesson for my Sunday School class today, I couldn't help but make the connection: the title is "It's Not About Me". I think Someone is trying to tell me something.
ReplyDeleteLakesha, you are so right. When we let God lead life has more meaning. Lately I have been struggling with this. Trusting God more with my career and life is starting to become something that I am beginning to allow. I am exhausted when I try to do it all, but when I let God lead it is so effortless. I also am on the journey of self discovery as God reveals His desires for me. Leading with soul is great! Now I need to allow God to show me how to apply it.
ReplyDeleteI agree and recently had a similar conversation with a colleague of mine. I realized during that conversation that my journey has been bumping and that I have taken some wrong turns which have lead me astray, I have ignored some stop signs and pressed forward anyway. Inspite of all the mistakes I have made, all the wrong turns I have taken that I am right were God wants me to be. So as I am writing this I am reflecting in action and am now wondering since I am were God wants me to be have I really taken any wrong turns? Things that make you go Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult for me to allow anyone to take complete control of my life, not because I am a "control freak," but because it causes me to feel great anxiety and even fear. In the past I have often feared God revealing to me a path I didn't want to travel, for various reasons. Many times this fear led to me denying myself the path God had for me. However, as is His nature, God has lovingly redirected me and/or guided me back to his plan. But, this only seems to happen when I look to Him and not to myself. This is another sort of paradox, I think. The paradox of God and ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAs one of God's children who has many times been anxious about what is happening in my life I have adopted for my prayer of confession these verses from Psalm 139: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."
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