Rebirth of Hope

Angela and I spent a wonderful hour or so this evening sipping our $2.00 (avg price) Starbucks drinks while looking out across a Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot and miles of smog enshrouded housing developments disapearing off into the sunset for as far as the eye could see. Ok, the setting may leave something to be desired, but the company and conversation were not to be matched. The contrast between our time together and the location did make me realize (again) that the world we were watching is not the world I want to be a part of. Neither really are the twenty story office buildings and shopping districts towards down town. I'm speaking of something deeper than just city life, suburban life, or country life; I'm speaking of life priorities.

My cynicism may not be crumbling yet, but it is under severe attack. I do hope. I do dream. I do believe. Never have I felt more strongly that God has a plan for me. I also believe that nothing in this world will bring me more joy than living this plan. God doesn't use the three dozen standardized degrees and their two hundred slight variations that colleges offer today. His every plan is custom made, designed unique to you.

School feels so backwards to me. I feel presured to become an "Accountant," a "2nd Grade Teacher," or a "Graphic Artist." Education, to me, feels like being molded to fit a label we call a career. Real education is supposed to be about enlightenment, learning to think, learning to ask questions and to seek answers. God's education might very well include a college degree, but then again it might not. There is nothing wrong in (gasp) other paths.

The bottom line is, "What is your goal in life?" If its to retire at 65, play golf, travel a bit, and pursue hobbies, a college degree and decent salary for 40 years is probably for you. Call me crazy, but this just does not sound like life. Life, to me, is living in dependence on God, financially, occupation wise, lifestyle wise... on and on. I doubt I'll ever be ritch, probably not even comfortably well off by American standards, but I will have so much more. I can't stop thinking "Choose whom this day you will serve." Truly serving God does not look like anything we call safe or normal. Paul followed God, I believe that Mother Teresa and the Schaeffers did too.

I think perhaps, we as American's are trying to make a new Heaven on earth. We work for 65 years, "pay our dues to society," and then get 20ish years of "Heaven" to enjoy. We even create miniature gated mansions with faux streets of gold in Florida called retirement communities where we play shuffleboard and watch the afternoon rain storm sweep through.

We start with the "education" years, then there are the "work" years, finally there are the "retirement" years. We are segregating society by work. "Work" now means "To make money." How wrong is this? I think "work" is supposed to mean "to be God's hands in His world." This is not limited by age; It doesn't start at 18 or 23 and doesn't end at 65, it is part of the identity we are born with. The big question is "How do I 'work' and still make money to support myself, and maybe a family?" I don't know, and I don't think that I NEED to know. Paul, Mother Teresa, and the Schaeffers didn't ask this question as far as I know. They did God's work, trusted in Him as the Supreme Employer to supply a paycheck, and like the "...lillies of the field and the birds of the air...," God provided.

Can one TRULY live on faith in our modern materialistic world?!?
I'm beginning to believe...