Set The Course
In life, I've learned so far to set one course and be steadfast in keeping it. There's a principle here of keeping your energy focused on achieving the course set, and not letting it be diverted to distractions, however worthy they may be. Now, I'm not talking about a life out of balance just for the sake of one course, I'm talking about balancing life throughout the course that is set.
Like a ship floating aimlessly in the sea while the captain and crew sleep below deck, unanchored, so was I in my career and life right out of high school. I didn't know what I wanted to do for a career, I didn't know what I wanted my family life to be like, or even an idea of what life should be like as a Christian man. I was wandering and doing ok, but I was aimless. At the time I was ok with it because I hadn't considered any other way and didn't have any clear direction from those around me. Then came the change.
My wife was pregnant and suddenly there was urgency about being clear and focusing my energy to setting a good family life, achieving success in a set career path, and living as a good Christian man; I was still unclear on what to do at the time though.
I wanted to be in financial planning and a stock broker by profession. I knew that because money interested me. However, I didn't want to sell anything, but realized that to do that kind of job I would have to learn to sell and learn to at least like it a little. So I set the course for the first time in my work life: I called my wife's uncle Pat and asked him about direction in learning to sell. That resulted in my first sales job, learning by experience instead of just by academic study. Fast forward to now, and I've had a successful run as a sales rep, director of sales, sales trainer, and commercial leasing rep. Now as a commercial leasing rep my life is still on course and I'm enjoying the fruits of the labor I've done and am still doing.
As for my family life, I've since set the course o raising my children, with my wife together, in a godly way, and for a godly purpose: to have faith in Jesus alone for life eternally. I've also since set the course for my personal relationship with God. I love Him and I talk to Him constantly and seek to apply the Truth of the Bible to every situation I face daily. He is the light of my path each day and in setting the long-term course of each area of my life. The course set here is to grow in maturity, in dependence upon Jesus for guidance, and to obey in full faith that He knows what is best and His glory is my greatest good.
Setting the course in life is vital to living life fully, but it must be set correctly. There is a lot of gray area in life for sure, but there is also some clear black and white lines drawn. Jesus is life and is the only way to eternal life. Without faith in Jesus there is no salvation from sin and from the works of the devil. So no matter what other course you set, setting your course oriented with Jesus as the True North, the guiding light, the focus, the subject of life not the object of it, is the only way to live life at all, and to live it to fullness of all it was given to be by God, the Creator of life itself.
Once that's set, then there is freedom from selfish ambitions, freedom to serve others out of genuine love for them, genuine love for God, and peace and contentment in all things. This blog is not about achieving great wealth, although I believe that's possible for anyone. It's not about achieving your own personal dreams, although that's fine to do if you choose. It's about living life fully, oriented around Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. With that the course can be set with certainty that it will end in love, life, and liberty. All other things are important, but not equally important as this one Primary thing.
I'll blog about succeeding at work, setting goals, managing money, training up children, loving others, loving God, bible study, career decisions, life balancing, and many other things I'm sure. But out of it all, it comes from a man, so consider what I say, hold fast to what is good and disregard the rest.
*An important note: you can determine what is good by comparing it to God's Word, the Bible, and how it applies to your life, not by just picking and choosing on your own wisdom.*
