| Thomas,
Yes, I've noticed that, too... There have been some gray areas
in my life that stayed grayer longer than I would have liked.
Sometimes I just drifted without any rudder or propeller, such as
applying to only one college, getting accepted, and going there for about
five years. As the coursework got less structured, I gradually lost
interest, and finally left to pursue a career without getting a degree.
I think in this instance, and others like it, I would have done
better to take more responsibility for pursuing more opportunities, e.g.
researching my interests and aptitudes, and applying to the colleges
offering the best-fit curricula. I should have been actively setting
and re-setting my educational goals. I should have been willing to
move to a different college sooner in pursuit of an education. Of
course, I should also have sought the Lord more diligently in this area.
Other times I had an urgent and enthusiastic sense of purpose,
such as when I was trying to find the right mate (especially during
college). Try as I did, though, I couldn't find what I was looking
for until much later in life.
I think in this instance, and others like it, I would have done
better to just surrender my plans to the Lord, and concentrate on becoming
the kind of man who would be a good husband and father, if and when the
opportunity presented itself. Of course, I should also have sought the
Lord more diligently in this area.
What I'm trying to say is that these "gray areas" are exactly the
areas God uses in our lives to build Christ-like character in us, and
reliance on Him alone. There's just no substitute for the life-long
process. I've heard that men tend to be more goal-oriented, and women
tend to be more process-oriented. We need to understand that sometimes
what we gain from the *process* is even more important than what we hope
to gain from the *goal*.
HTH,
Bob Sampson
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| Hi Thomas,
I'm new to this conference because I am new to Digital, so I hope I am
doing this right!
Your question fits right into the sunday school course I am "teaching"
(really, facilitating -- the class does the teaching!). And, what the
course reinforces, to me as I experience this class, how critical
fellowship is, and seeking godly and wise counsel. We need to have a
safe place with other beleivers where we can share our concerns and
confusion of those gray areas. As a Xian person, too, as I've grown over
the years, I have changed my position on things -- gray areas can be
affected by where we are in our walk with the Lord. We do need to be
flexible to respond to His will in our lives at the present (I am not,
however, saying God changes His mind on His standards, nor do I go for
"process theology").
BTW, the sunday school course is titled, "How to live as a Christian in
a Crooked World" Its been lively and really well attended!
nice to meet you,
Marian Carney
corporate library group, marlboro
usctr1::carney
dtn 297-5498
ps: Hi to all the brothers out there I've met since coming onboard (on
DEC?) last month - Kevin, Andrew, Jim -- bless you!
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