That resonates a lot. My life has been one long winding road trying to figure out what I want to be when I grew up. I thought I was supposed to be a preacher...but doors slammed or never opened. I ended up teaching for a few years (plan B), but never really liked it. Figured out I might should have been a writer....but my window of opportunity is about closed, and there are clothes to wash, and dogs to feed, and a newly adopted son who is nothing of the romanticized Oliver Twist vision I once held. What you wrote is very pertinent and is true for a great many more of us than one might think.
When my life fell apart because of ill health, and then found Christ and His Church as a result, it was a huge relief for me when I came to realize that my only purpose in life, God's only will for me, was to love Him and love my neighbor in each moment to the best of my ability. If I can accomplish that with His help, then I have had a "purpose-filled" moment.
Dec 21, 2023·edited Dec 21, 2023Liked by Steve Robinson
I spent many years trying to discern the seemingly impenetrable will of God for my life. This was a heavy theme when I attended Bible school many moons ago. It was of the charismatic variety, so everyone was routinely receiving prophecies about how they would witness before kings and leaders, travel to foreign lands and win nations to God. No one ever got a prophecy that they’d be a janitor or a stay at home mom. I've come back again and again to this quote from St. Augustine:
“Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.”
Ahh… but you were called to the priesthood( we all are) you just didn’t know what that looked like. A.K.A. God’s version versus Steve’s version. I thank God for you and the message you share to find the divine in the ordinary circumstances of life.
Dec 22, 2023·edited Dec 22, 2023Liked by Steve Robinson
Thank you. This was a timely post for me too. I was initiated as a catechumen to join the Orthodox Church this past Sunday. I have always wondered myself what God wanted me to do but that is the focus in the Roman church. Now I think it is not what I do that is important but who I am. Perhaps God takes more delight in small unnoticed little works of mercy than in any great work that would draw attention from God and on to me.
All things work to good to them that believe. I believe God has a purpose and a destiny for each of us. Sometimes it’s manifest, but mostly it is manifested in the daily duty or the mouths of others we may not want to listen to. I remember one job interview where there was some concern I might be too “high falutin” or something, I came out with that sentiment and brought in listening to “the guy on the street”. Seems it was the right thing to say. But more, we know God speaks in many and varied ways.
That resonates a lot. My life has been one long winding road trying to figure out what I want to be when I grew up. I thought I was supposed to be a preacher...but doors slammed or never opened. I ended up teaching for a few years (plan B), but never really liked it. Figured out I might should have been a writer....but my window of opportunity is about closed, and there are clothes to wash, and dogs to feed, and a newly adopted son who is nothing of the romanticized Oliver Twist vision I once held. What you wrote is very pertinent and is true for a great many more of us than one might think.
When my life fell apart because of ill health, and then found Christ and His Church as a result, it was a huge relief for me when I came to realize that my only purpose in life, God's only will for me, was to love Him and love my neighbor in each moment to the best of my ability. If I can accomplish that with His help, then I have had a "purpose-filled" moment.
I spent many years trying to discern the seemingly impenetrable will of God for my life. This was a heavy theme when I attended Bible school many moons ago. It was of the charismatic variety, so everyone was routinely receiving prophecies about how they would witness before kings and leaders, travel to foreign lands and win nations to God. No one ever got a prophecy that they’d be a janitor or a stay at home mom. I've come back again and again to this quote from St. Augustine:
“Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.”
the ground is uneven and the path isn't clear. Stumbling forward towards the light, with dim eyes.
Ahh… but you were called to the priesthood( we all are) you just didn’t know what that looked like. A.K.A. God’s version versus Steve’s version. I thank God for you and the message you share to find the divine in the ordinary circumstances of life.
Thank you. This was a timely post for me too. I was initiated as a catechumen to join the Orthodox Church this past Sunday. I have always wondered myself what God wanted me to do but that is the focus in the Roman church. Now I think it is not what I do that is important but who I am. Perhaps God takes more delight in small unnoticed little works of mercy than in any great work that would draw attention from God and on to me.
Thank you!
Thank you sir. I really needed to read this right now. Bless you.
All things work to good to them that believe. I believe God has a purpose and a destiny for each of us. Sometimes it’s manifest, but mostly it is manifested in the daily duty or the mouths of others we may not want to listen to. I remember one job interview where there was some concern I might be too “high falutin” or something, I came out with that sentiment and brought in listening to “the guy on the street”. Seems it was the right thing to say. But more, we know God speaks in many and varied ways.