Living in Moments

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I've seen quotes like this ever since I can remember. Life is about the here and now. It's about the moments, so make every moment count. On and on and on.

This idea sounded nice, but didn't make much sense to me- practically speaking. I had to focus on graduating high school with a decent enough GPA and enough AP classes to get me into a competitive liberal arts school. All this while maintaining my participation in lots of different extracurricular activities to prove that I was well rounded, yet unique and passionate about a few specific areas.

And I sure did get into a competitive liberal arts college. Then I had to focus on choosing a major that was marketable in the "real world,"  obtaining at least 2 internships, holding multiple student leadership positions, and planning what I was going to do after I walked across that stage.

Now that I've successfully completed undergrad and acquired full-time employment, I have accomplished all that was required of me.

Now what?

Life on the other side of the classes and homework seems like one long blob of time that is not nicely and neatly packaged into defined periods. I don't need to move out of my apartment in May. I don't need to know where I want to be in four years when this phase of school ends.

My life is an open book for me to shape and divide as I like. To me, it's actually quite intimidating. But with this realization I was struck by the truth behind all those sayings about moments.

I am no longer distracted by the future or by planning for the next section of life. For the time being I am effectively in the last known section. I'm sure this will change if I get married or have children, but for right now this is my reality until further notice.

And it's great! The thought that whatever I choose to do this very moment is shaping my life and the direction it could go is so freeing and marvelous! Inhibitions are lost and adventures wait around every corner. Go take your moments and live an adventure!

"The spur of the moment is the essence of adventure." -- Anthony Armstrong-Jones

The Beginning of Knowledge

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Proverbs 1:7

Based on the contents of my last post, it may be fairly obvious that I am in desperate need of wisdom and have been seeking discernment on where to go next in my life.

Enter God.

While in college, I attended Willow Creek Community Church and, even though I no longer live in the Chicago area, I still try to watch the sermons via the internet or listen to a podcast. The leadership there has decided to do a series on Proverbs. 11 weeks in the book that is saturated in wisdom for the purpose of discernment, among other things!

When I heard that 2 weeks ago, all I could think was "Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! Let's do this!"

In other words, "What perfect timing."

I have decided that I will read the book of Proverbs in conjunction with the series at Willow. Honestly my intake of Scripture has been sparse at best over these past few months. I can't think of a better way to get myself back into the necessary habit and spiritual discipline of mediating on the Word.

As I begin my journey in Proverbs, three themes identified in the first seven verses of the book stand out to me. The book seeks to:

           1. Help you understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge
                     
                       2. Help you be discerning and get guidance 

                               3.  Help you acquire a disciplined life

In his first sermon in this series, Hybels alluded to a question in the text that hit home for me.

"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"  Proverbs 1:22

Something about our fallen human condition drives us to scorn wisdom and knowledge. We find delight in the frivolous and the shallow. Proverbs chapter one verse thirty-two warns that the "waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them."

How seriously do we take these warnings?
How many of us are willingly walking down a path that is leading us to destruction?

As I continue on this journey, I am expectant of the ways the Holy Spirit will move in my life. I anticipate His guidance and direction. I long for wisdom and discernment.

God, may I seek after wisdom recognizing that you are it's source.