The Path Principle

I have this overwhelming sense to write in my blog right now, and I was thinking it's been awhile since I wrote in it...well it was just two days ago. Why does it seem like time is going so fast, and yet it's not? No wait, that doesn't make sense. Ugh. I think I will need a few weeks to catch up on my rest after this weekend.

Anyways, I'm currently sitting on the train to St. Catharines. (Yay for free internet!) After last weekend, our 'boss' man gave us a CD of podcasts by Andy Stanley...a series of 4 sermons on the topic of "Destination". I decided to listen to the first one when I got on the train. What he had to say is so relevant to a lot of things in my life, and I can look back and say, yes - that's what I was doing, or no- that's not what I was doing. Neat.

So, the one I listened to today was on a concept he calls "The Path Principle". Using the analogy of getting lost while driving, he comments that you don't necessarily know you're in the process of getting lost, but when there is a point when driving when you realize you are lost. That "fine" line between knowing where you are and being lost, is not well defined until you've already crossed the line.

He then begins to talk about our life as heading towards a destination. The quote that sums it up is: your direction on the path determines your destination. As I listened to his examples and as he explained this quote, a lot in my past just made SO much sense to me. He added that someone could have the best intentions to go one way, but if they choose a different direction, it's not going to take you to the destination you are wanting. He used the example in Proverbs 7 - where a young man falls into the trap of a married woman and ends up going to her house. His intentions were not to do that, but that's where he ended up.

Of more relevance to my life, the podcast went on to say that many people get wrapped up in the here and the now, as opposed to tomorrow and the future. Usually, strong emotional appeal will make us fixate on the immediate and therefore don't think about the ultimate. This is not a rational moment. Instead we get wrapped up in all that is happening. I now realize this is what I did just about a year ago now. I met a boy, got wrapped up in all the amazing emotions of it all, but didn't think to the future. It's just what I wanted at that moment. I wanted someone to hold me and to love me, and that's what it was. We both had the best intentions in the relationship (I would like to believe), but once we were in it, we realized it wasn't the path we should've been going down, as we were getting wrapped up in all the emotions, but weren't looking at things rationally.

So, Andy asks us: is the path you are on, heading towards where you want to go?

Remember this..."the direction (not intention) determines your destination". So, you may have the best intention in life to go somewhere, but if you do not get on the path that heads that way, you will not end up at your ultimate destination, but somewhere you didn't expect...I hope this makes sense...

Lord, I pray that you will help me to stay on the path you have for my life, and that you will direct me towards the destination you have in mind for me. Help me to see you and to follow you wherever you lead me. You are an amazing God, thank you for loving me, and I pray that you will help me to honor you with all that I do; my thoughts, actions, and words. In your holy and precious name, Amen.

P.S. Why do I learn all these things AFTER the fact? Life would be so much easier if I knew this before I got into things...but then I wouldn't be living life would I? hmmmmm....

P.P.S. I realized something today at tutoring club - I learn by regurgitating things and re-writing things - and I think that's what I'm finding this blog useful for. I actually am remembering a lot of things I have learned/heard because I think them through and write it out. So, thanks for reading and helping me out!