The other day I was having coffee with a friend, and we were discussing the future. For me, I try not to plan to far ahead and embrace today's challenges as they come. Don't get me wrong, I am a dreamer, and I love thinking about what the future may hold.... but I have also learned that nothing is set in stone. As it says in Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs His steps." I will admit that sometimes my mind goes in weird directions on how one thought spurs on another..... it got me thinking about the path of life and where that takes us, essentially where we choose to go. God is gonna keep us right where He needs us to be, sometimes backing us into a corner in His mercy to do so. Yet, as a loving Father, He has also given us our choice. The catch? He knows our hearts far better than we even know it for ourselves, He knows what we will choose. Nonetheless, there are a plethora of things that help us determine where we stand on the road of life: Our upbringings, our friends, what we're taught in school or church.... where we live.... etc. Those things can shape how we view ourselves, and even how we choose to view God. Sometimes we don't even realize it! Everyday we are at a crossroads of what we choose to believe.... about who God is, about the world, about who we are. We all are believing lies as a result of our experiences, past wounds and even due to the original sin beginning with Adam and Eve and the fall of man. Because of the fall, we are all trying to find our way back to Eden. This life is about the journey we take in getting there.
Lately I have been taking a class at the local university on Buddhist Hermaneutics in American Poetry. In all honesty, I began taking the class because I was required to have a diversity credit and only had 2 options. The other class... 'Expatriates in Paris' was full. Like many of us Christians, my skin was crawling at even the idea of being taught any doctrine that conflicted with my own. But I think that's the problem with most Christians.... and as I just said, I have been part of the problem, and in many ways, I probably still am. I was not looking forward to the start of the semester n regards to this class, however, when I looked at the syllabus and the literature we were assigned to read, it was some pretty awesome stuff and therefore I reason it might not be as bad as I thought. The first day of class, I ran into the other professor in the hallway on the way to said class, and told him about my frustration with his class being full. Since I have had this professor before, and loved him, it made it even harder to 'accept my fate.' Needless to say, I was seriously considering dropping this Buddhist Hermaneutcs class when I learned that this professor was willing to squeeze me in and sign an override. As soon as I told him I would consider it, already knowing what I wanted, I heard a voice deep in my heart nudging me, "better pray about that first.... " I knew God was trying to tell me something I had overlooked before.
I prayed and wrestled with the decision for about a week, I didn't want to compromise where I stood with my faith in Christ, because I am definitely not one of those, "all roads lead to God" kind of people. On the other hand, I didn't want to shrink back on what this class might offer, or more so- what God had in store through this class, because of fear. After the first day of class, the professor openly stated that he was a Buddhist convert that grew up Presbyterian and then belonged to a Baptist church for awhile. Odd journey in my opinion.... Regardless, I kept getting the feeling that this was an opportunity for me to be a witness, not only to this professor, but also toward the other students in the class. It also helped that a christian friend of mine was also taking the class, for somewhat similar reasons. Except that she feels called to the Far East and therefore has a deep interest in Asian culture. As I was sharing my dilemma with two of my closest friends, one of them encouraged me that the class would probably only make my faith in Christ stronger, and yes, probably would challenge me, and force me to wrestle with God in many ways, but in the end my foundation would be even stronger. I knew she was right. I knew God had something amazing planned for this semester... Buddhist Hermanuetics class was going to be a significant part of that.
The more I have gone through this class, being now almost a third of the way through the semester, the more I am realizing so many of the reasons God places me in this class. One being that this past Summer He had called me to Thailand and much of the culture and the people there are Buddhist. One being to refine even myself with the concept of who I am looking to as my Savior in life.... to Jesus, or to myself. And of course finally, to grow my faith and my boldness in being a witness to those around me. As I have been hit with each of these revelations, the more I am sure of God's pleasing and perfect will. The thought that I might have missed some amazing blessings if I had dropped the class greatly saddens me. The fact that so many believers shrink back from so many great adventures that the Lord is totally in the midst of saddens me even more. Like I said, going into this class, I can't say that I blame them, however looking at the gift God has given me in taking this class, I would challenge anyone that feels like studying or being taught about another belief or another culture or way of life, to reconsider. You never know what doors God may be opening up for the purposes for which he has called you to and what your future will hold from there. The biggest thing is listening to His voice for direction and being obedient to His leading. Like I said, even in this we have a choice.
I prayed and wrestled with the decision for about a week, I didn't want to compromise where I stood with my faith in Christ, because I am definitely not one of those, "all roads lead to God" kind of people. On the other hand, I didn't want to shrink back on what this class might offer, or more so- what God had in store through this class, because of fear. After the first day of class, the professor openly stated that he was a Buddhist convert that grew up Presbyterian and then belonged to a Baptist church for awhile. Odd journey in my opinion.... Regardless, I kept getting the feeling that this was an opportunity for me to be a witness, not only to this professor, but also toward the other students in the class. It also helped that a christian friend of mine was also taking the class, for somewhat similar reasons. Except that she feels called to the Far East and therefore has a deep interest in Asian culture. As I was sharing my dilemma with two of my closest friends, one of them encouraged me that the class would probably only make my faith in Christ stronger, and yes, probably would challenge me, and force me to wrestle with God in many ways, but in the end my foundation would be even stronger. I knew she was right. I knew God had something amazing planned for this semester... Buddhist Hermanuetics class was going to be a significant part of that.
The more I have gone through this class, being now almost a third of the way through the semester, the more I am realizing so many of the reasons God places me in this class. One being that this past Summer He had called me to Thailand and much of the culture and the people there are Buddhist. One being to refine even myself with the concept of who I am looking to as my Savior in life.... to Jesus, or to myself. And of course finally, to grow my faith and my boldness in being a witness to those around me. As I have been hit with each of these revelations, the more I am sure of God's pleasing and perfect will. The thought that I might have missed some amazing blessings if I had dropped the class greatly saddens me. The fact that so many believers shrink back from so many great adventures that the Lord is totally in the midst of saddens me even more. Like I said, going into this class, I can't say that I blame them, however looking at the gift God has given me in taking this class, I would challenge anyone that feels like studying or being taught about another belief or another culture or way of life, to reconsider. You never know what doors God may be opening up for the purposes for which he has called you to and what your future will hold from there. The biggest thing is listening to His voice for direction and being obedient to His leading. Like I said, even in this we have a choice.
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