What will you be
doing five years from now? What were you doing five years ago? The first is a
question that, all too often, we think we know the answer to. However,
sometimes all it takes is a reflective period to think on the answer to the
second to make us realize that we don’t necessarily know the answer to what we
will be doing five years in the future.
What was I doing
five years ago? I was newly married to Jodi, living in Jacksonville, FL, and I
knew that I wanted to take a year off and get a master’s degree online through
Liberty University. Doctoral work, for me, was out of the question. I was
working at Wachovia (which would soon become Wells Fargo), and I was also in
the middle of an internship at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sanford, FL. I had
just gotten into apologetics through reading “Can Man Live Without God?” and William Lane Craig’s website. I had
never taken any philosophy courses, and I was still slightly suspicious of
Molinism (but also suspected it was true).
At that time, I
thought that Jodi and I would have one or two kids by now. I thought that I
would be working full-time at a church as an assistant pastor, and that maybe I
would be a little more involved in apologetics. I figured I would have an MAR
and that would finish my education. I thought I probably would own a house.
Almost none of
these things happened (I am involved more in apologetics). I have taken
philosophy courses, I am working to move toward doctoral work, we don’t have
any children, etc. I don’t even live in the same state anymore. So what will I
be doing in five years? Well, I can tell you a little bit about where I’d like
to be. I’d like to either have my PhD or be very close to completing it; I’d
like to have kids by then; I’d like to do and see a lot of things. Who knows
how many of those things will happen? Above all, I just need to be committed to
following the Lord’s direction for my life.
So where will
you be in five years? Where were you five years ago? Where did you think you
would be? Are you following the Lord where he leads you? These are all things
to consider as you move throughout your life.
In some ways, I'm not currently where I wanted to be in life five years ago. I'm still single, for example. But, five years ago, I never would have imagined my life going where it has. I guess that should make me think twice before I act like I *know* how certain aspects of my life will turn out in the future, because I sometimes exhibit an unjustified confidence that some things in my life will never change.
ReplyDeleteHey Kyle, thanks for your thoughts! I certainly want to convey that while some of my goals were not achieved, I have achieved other things that I didn't plan on, and God has led me to a place I am content with, regardless. I know God will continue to work in your life!
Delete