Commit your works to the Almighty,
and your thoughts will be established…
A man’s heart plans his way,
but Yah directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:3 /9 (NKJV)
Predetermined Success
In high school I had a friend from India who knew that he was going to be an engineer. That was the whole reason his parents moved to America. It was so impressive to know a guy who seemed to have his life all figured out at such a young age. I almost envied the sense of purpose he had about it.
That was over a decade ago, but I wonder if he ever became that engineer. And if so, is he happy with that? Did he follow the predetermined path his parents set for him, regretfully? Or did he deviate and find joy in something completely unrelated, thankfully? Guess I’ll never know.
Realistic Dreams
A more recent scenario happened on the University campus a couple weeks back. I met a transfer student studying pre-Law. One thing led to another, and she disclosed that what she’s always wanted was to be a fashion designer but she picked law because it was more realistic.
I asked her, “How’d you figure?” and she responded because there’s only a small number of successful fashion designers in the world. Then I asked my second question: “What if there’s only a small number of successful ones because most of the others gave up on their dreams to do something more ‘realistic’?”
I could tell that blew her mind.
But Who are You?
When you sleep at night, your dreams are probably unrealistic and I’m willing to bet that you didn’t plan them out with pen and paper before hand. It just doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way either.
Your interests are your interests for a reason. A lot of times they go way back to your childhood– and maybe your parents understood it; maybe they didn’t even notice. But YOU know!
Whatever they are, you have them for a reason. We’re not meant to all be the same. If we were, then everyone want to start a blog called Peace & Poetry and we’d have to duel to the last one standing..
I’ve definitely fallen into the comparison trap at times, but ultimately I’m learning to embrace my interests and I know that God will make things work out if I faithfully pursue them.
The same goes for you.