Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday February 7, 2008

When our children were toddlers we thought they would never grow up. Now their children are near grown and well, you know the story. I vividly recall one morning when one of the offspring was having a hissy fit, screaming, throwing food from the high chair and I offered, in bellicose terms that my side of the family did not act in such outlandish ways. I am still in hock for that statement. When the gathering blonde storm went into "laying in wait for proper moment mode" I asked the child, "Well, what DO you want?" The fruit of the love the Great Blonde and I shared screamed, "I don’t knooowowow."

Many if not most modern adults are in the same boat and cannot give a reasonable answer to the question. Some will opine, "I want what I don't have." A broad field indeed. The most famous Americans want "What the Jones kids already have." People don"t know what they want.

A man by the name of Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and Bart called out for help. Jesus merely asked the toughest question in life when Jesus answered and said unto him, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" The blind man said unto him, Lord, "that I might receive my sight." Mark 10:51. If you are blind it is a simple thing to ask for the restoration of sight. But apart from such challenges most do not know what they want out or life, or more importantly what they want to contribute to life. I talk with men of the cloth who have no idea where they want to be going with the Lord, let alone have a clear idea of why and what, with a plan written down to achieve their dream.

As a pastor/counselor I often hear the phrase, "I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere in life." In most cases the feeling is valid because the person has not stated to themselves just where it is they want to go. Billy Graham told the story of Albert Einstein riding on a train in England. The conductor came along to take the tickets, and Einstein could not find his. He looked in his wallet, his pockets, and under the seat. No luck. The conductor said, "Dr. Einstein, I recognize and you do not have show me the ticket. Have a good trip." The conductor moved on along the aisle. As he was about to leave the car and proceed to the next one, he looked back and saw the good Dr. down on his knees, looking franticly for his ticket. The conductor walked back to Dr. Einstein and said, "It is okay Dr. I know who you are." Einstein replied, "I know who I am also, but what I need the ticket for is to find out where I am going."

The absolute importance of knowing where we are going, what we want to achieve along the way and why we want this is one of the essential keys to accomplishing worthwhile things in this life. If you don't know where you are going, there is no way to measure progress, or even determine if you're on course or bouncing around a wilderness. Seneca put this way:

"Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind."

So, back to life's essential question, "What do you want? Really?"

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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