Time is a tireless journeyman
Rolling life through paths clear and vague
Every new step, a fruit of the former
With links that shape the days to come
Choices and consequences, inseparable twins
You pick one and the other tags along
Some hurt for a while, others hunt for life
Yet there be those that breed peace and bliss.
On life’s journey, many choices have I made
Some brought tears that truly made me wise
For some I reaped riches that brought delight
While others left scars that scare from blunders
I have tried my ways and missed the mark
I have gone the way of friends and families
And could not measure up long enough
So I reversed and resolved: from this day
I choose to go the way of the Lord
And be content with the fruits thereof
Each and every one of us is pulled in several directions to meet countless expectations. We want to satisfy our families, to delight friends, to impress bosses and colleagues, astound our neighbors, dazzle society, and amaze the world. Often, these are noble intentions but trouble begins when we leave out the most critical of it all: pleasing the Lord.
Scripture says if a man’s way pleases the Lord, He will cause all men, enemies inclusive, to be at peace with him. My understanding of that is that if pleasing the Lord becomes the priority on my daily to-do list, God saves me from a lifetime of struggles and from the inestimable burden of trying to get it right all the time with everyone. This I have found, brings the liberty to conserve and focus our energies on what really needs to be done or rather, on what He wants us to do, since we cannot do everything. And having done those, to enjoy His peace and stability irrespective of responses and results.
This year, God has promised to astound those who look up to Him but that leaves on us the awesome responsibility of choosing at every point in time, who to serve and please first; the Lord, ourselves, or the countless issues demanding our attention. As for me, I have chosen to put God first every step of the way: to seek Him and to please Him above all others. It might not be easy but He will make it all good for those whose hearts are stayed on Him. May His grace guide your hearts to choose and live wisely this year, amen.
Glory!