Become what you already are; find Him Who is already yours; listen to Him Who never ceases speaking to you; own Him Who already owns you.” St. Gregory of Sinai (13th Century)
If you were to draw a picture of yourself as a traveler, what kind of picture would you draw? Do you like to travel with a reliable map and a Rick Steve's guidebook in your hands? Or do you like to just get in the car and improvise along the way? Depending on the kind of traveler you are, your experience will be very different. In fact, even your destination will be different.
There was a time when I really liked the image of myself as the solo cowboy riding the horse to the Wild Wild West. I liked to picture myself as no ordinary cowboy ad my horse as extraordinary. I had always imagined myself as the powerful cowboy with the big gun and my horse was one that never got tired. To me, life was expected to happen like clockwork. I was my own master, Savior, and guide.
The first 20 or so years of my life seemed to confirm my belief in this clockwork life: I am the Cause that makes things happen and I am the Answer to all questions.
The clockwork seemed to be ticking predictably until my life experiences grounded me to a halt: inability to find a job, in spite of my credentials, in the hostile state of Mississippi, young adult children engaging in self-destructive behaviors, numerous health challenges including cancer… This list has not yet been exhausted.
When my nose tip was up against the brick wall, I began to ask the question: who is the Cause? Who is my Master? Who is my Savior? Who is my Guide? Who is the Answer?
Then it dawned on me that I didn’t know the Answer because I was not asking the right question!
I've discovered the foundational question for life-mapping is my relationship with God. Ever since I decided to follow Jesus Christ in my mid 20s, I began to see life through new lenses. Living was no longer just about achieving personal and career goals, self-improvement and self-actualization, showcasing what a wonderful person I am, creating wealth and maintaining health, and gaining celebrity with alacrity. These may be common and natural desires of the human heart, but they are not big enough, knowledgeable enough, powerful enough, and caring enough to be my Sherpa on the slippery slopes of the Himalayas. My Creator is the One who stamped me with the purpose and the calling He had in mind from the moment He created me in my mother’s womb.
As you journey through life, what kinds of questions are you asking? Do you have this question on your list: how do you relate to your Creator? Your answer to this question will determine your traveling experience as well as your destination.
I help people figure out what to do with their lives, discover their purpose in calling, identify their strengths, and more effectively navigate life – something called Life Coaching.
Please visit me at http://www.theresaipfroehlich.com