Feb 6, 2013

: post-graduation plan

Earlier this morning, someone asked me what my post-graduation plan was, a question I've heard at least 53 times this month. Eighty percent of the time, I respond seriously and map out the potential outcomes of my life after graduating. The other twenty percent of the time, though, I tell the truth: I have no idea. (If I'm in an extra good mood, I add, 'And we could all be dead in 11 months so I'm not going to be anxious about it either.')

Seriously though, every time I try to plan out January of 2014 my eye starts twitching. NO LIE, as I write this, my right eye is twitching.

And this might be the free spirited 21-year old in me, but maybe I'm not meant to know the future. Maybe I don't need to figure out what January 1, 2014 is going to look like because there are (at least) ten thousand things that will happen between now and then. So for me to act as if I know what my life will look like next week, let alone next year, seems a little silly.

I understand that planning and strategies and vision are all great, biblical things. In fact, as a side note, I took the StrengthsFinder test and Strategy was one of my themes...I felt pretty good about it. But we have to remember that we've only been given the present. We can't fast forward, reverse or manipulate time, right? All I can do is be faithful with this very minute, because this minute is all I'm guaranteed to have. 

I don't know.

There's just a lot of talk about 'discerning the will of God' and 'trying to know his purpose' for my life. But maybe his will for me is to be faithful today with what he's given me today. And tomorrow I will do the same with tomorrow. Then, day after faithful day, I might find myself in grad school or planting a church or sneaking into North Korea.

But for now, my only job is to proofread this post and get cupcakes out of the oven. So that's exactly what I'll do.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first othe kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. -Matthew 6:31-34