I do a lot of goal writing for work. The thing with goals is that once you meet one goal, you can always set another, more challenging goal, or just quit and be satisfied with where you are. This can apply to a lot of areas in our lives. We may be motivated to do well in school by trying to excel in academics or pursuits in sports. We may then try to get into a good college, do well to get a good job, and trying to advance in our career, chasing one thing after another. Eventually, we may not meet the goal or expectation we had for ourselves, or something happens to change our outlook on what we want to achieve. Your goals and priorities probably looked different when you were single versus after you were married or had children, or after a career change. We adapt with each change and look ahead to each new horizon, depending on where we find ourselves. Are you current aspirations the same as you had ten or twenty years earlier?
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:8-9
I’ve always been fascinated with stories like the Lewis and Clark expedition and how pioneers settled into the American West. What would motivate someone to leave all they have and risk their lives to venture into a new frontier. My brother was recently doing some genealogy research and found we were related to the brother of John Colter, which may explain some things, as he was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition for a time, and one of the first Pioneers to travel through what is now Yellowstone National Park. In the 1960’s, people were intrigued by the space race, moon landings, and how one show put it, “Space – the Final Frontier.” While the settlings of the American West and outer space inspire stories of discovery and adventure, they also contain tales of tragedy, murder, and failure, which is not too unlike our current society, just in a different time and setting. What inspires you each morning when you get out of bed?
All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:8-9
Do you feel a sense of adventure in your spiritual life? Is there a burning desire in your soul to pray or be in the Word on a regular basis? Do you have a fire within you that makes you want to see others come to know Christ and grow in their faith? If you are born again believer, to some degree your answer should be yes. But there are many distractions and false promises we chase in life that ultimately lead to the same conclusion…a dead end. Sure, we may make some money, notoriety, and have some momentary pleasure or gain from some of these things, but when we look behind the curtain, they are all still empty. Only what is done for the Kingdom will last and truly satisfies. May you find that at the end of your adventures as you step into a New Kingdom!
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:6-9
Yours in Christ,
Clark
