Life in Neutral…

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom…May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:12 & 17

Living life in neutral means coasting along without direction. I have met quite a few people this week who seem to be living life in neutral. They move through each day without passion or intensity. Life without fire or fascination is not really living.

A few weeks ago I picked up a rental car from our local Enterprise. They do a good job there and take care of me well, most of the time. My transportation plans changed at the last minute so I had to get a car on short notice. I was give a standard mid-sized sedan with one little problem, it would get stuck in neutral. Now the good news is that you could eventually get it into gear with a little “persuasion.” The bad news is that it preferred neutral. Neutral is the gear that you use when you don’t want to go anywhere or engage motion. It just sits there, or worse, rolls down the hill that you park upon. When you are stuck in neutral and can’t even go in park you have to park on flat surfaces and make sure you use the parking brake.

Just going along. People who live in neutral are those who just go along. They don’t have a plan, a goal or a calling. They haven’t stopped long enough to listen for God’s beckoning upon their life to do something bigger than they can imagine or they have stopped so long that they can’t get it in gear again. Now don’t get me wrong, we all need some neutral times in our lives. We need some time to rest and refocus, but that should be a time that allows you to get your feet back on the ground so that you can rediscover God’s call upon you and then put it back in gear and keep going.

I tell my students that if you find something to do with your life that you would do whether they paid you to do it or not, then you have found your calling. That is my passion in life, helping others discovers their calling. Unveiling the call that God places upon their heart that gives them meaning and purpose in life. God is continuing to unveil God’s plan for my life. That is the amazing thing about God, the plan is never done! The plan is always unfolding.

The past couple of months have been a rough patch in my journey. The temptation to get stuck in neutral was very real. Thankfully I have people who pray for me and continue to push me to keep seeking God’s presences and listening to God’s voice. If you don’t have those people in your life, open yourself up for God to provide those voices into your life.

What’s next? I’m not sure. I mean I have a multi-page to do list on two different legal pads (a future blog will focus on to do lists…working title is “I’m a Yellow Fellow…lol) so there is plenty to do. The key is to divide the important from the urgent. God help me focus on the urgent.

“Lord help me faithfully to journey along my road, holding my rightful place in the great procession humanity; help me above all to recognize You and to help You in all my pilgrim[age].” Michel Quiost

Today’s Prayer: My Lord and my King, the One who defines me, focuses me and refines me by fire guide my steps, direct my paths and unveil your will for my life. Allow me to correct my course as I go into the future. Put those around me who You have chosen to share the journey with me and help me to recognize them when I find them. In the name of Jesus who continually shows me the way I pray, amen.