I read a brief but well written article by Bruce Epperly.* He reminded me that what I make of my life is up today, this year or the rest of my time on earth is up to me. I have choices to make that will determine my path and even as I encounter people, events, circumstances, etc., along the way over which I have no control, I can determine within myself how I react/respond. I love the reference to Victor Frankl, concentration camp survivor, who shows us that uncontrollable life circumstances can take everything else away from us except our ability to choose our attitude and how we will respond. “We could choose moment by moment our attitude toward what we could not change and be part of a larger holy adventure in which small choices could lead to great adventures, and then bring changes to what appeared intractable.”
Open and Relational Theology (ORT) has helped me to stop waiting for God to do something that only I can do, because God does not control me. God seeks to influence, encourage, guide and support me as I strive to cooperate with God does in this world through actions that are motivated by his uncontrolling love.
I may be limited by the pandemic—as we all are to one degree or another—and/or by my very real and ongoing life altering health challenges.** Yet, I still have much choice from various paths I can choose for my life today, this week, this year and beyond. I am convinced there is no one true path that has been determined by God that I must seek and find in order to do God’s will in this world. I know what God’s will is for me as a free will human being, created in his image. What Micah wrote, over 2000 years ago is still true today: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded with clarity, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).
The paths for the rest of my life—today, this week, this year and beyond—are not predetermined. Under the umbrella of what I know is God’s will for my life (to do justice, love kindness, walk humbly, love God and my neighbour) there are virtually unlimited choices I can make. As a person of faith, there are times I have spent far too much time waiting for God to show me what God wants me to do, when all the while God is saying, “I have told you. You know what I want for you to be and to do. Choose whatever paths you want that are consistent with my overall will and I will be there to encourage, support, guide and empower you.” Nike may have popularized the phrase “Just Do It” in the modern era, but God has been saying it all along. So often, according to Israelite tradition, God had to tell the leaders of his people, “Get up and move on.”
I can sit around in 2021 waiting for God to make my path clear to me, when in reality he already has. “You know, O Brian, what is good. Do justice, love kindness, live in humility. Love me and love your neighbour. So, Brian, just do it! Get up off your rear end and move along whatever path(s) you choose and I will be with you always to the very end of the age.” Happy New Year!
********
*Bruce Epperly, "Possibilities for a New Year."
**These include, but are not limited to, autonomic and peripheral neuropathies, severe lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, L2-3 disc herniation, ongoing sinus issues, etc. *
No comments:
Post a Comment