“If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t matter which path you take.” ~ The Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland)
Going in the right direction is extremely important. As a matter of fact, many companies have made a lot of money developing an assortment of GPS devices for sale so that we can get to where we want to go as directly as possible. We all know what it has been like when those devices failed us because they hadn’t been updated to new roads that had been developed or couldn’t warn us about a freeway that was at a standstill because of an accident. It’s frustrating not to be able to get where we wanted to go.
Are you going to get where you want to go? The question presumes, does it not, that we actually know where we want to go? If we don’t know where we want to go, we are going to spend a good deal of our lives befuddled. I see that a lot in teenagers. As they get to be sophomores and juniors in high school, the question “Where do you want to go?” comes to them quite often in terms of schooling. Do they have a college in mind? Do they have a major in mind? Do they have a target profession in mind?
For many, the answer would be, “I’m not sure.” The idea of college is quite daunting especially when considering the entry requirements as well as the cost. Many times, a student will pick a college but not be quite sure about what he or she wants to do after graduation. In that regard, the college they are considering might not be the best college for what will be their chosen profession.
This just doesn’t apply to high school students deciding on colleges. It applies to those who are searching for employment as well. Do they know what they want to do in that profession? Is that profession going to be used by them as a stepstool to a more advanced profession? Do they know, ultimately, where they want to go?
This happens to people who are nearing retirement. They often decide that they want to move away from where they have lived, maybe for health reasons or to be closer to family and friends? But to where? There are so many places that can be appealing that the decision is difficult. We can’t decide upon the path to take until we decide where we want to go.
There are too many paths in life and in this world that will take us to too many places. What about your spiritual life? Do you want to go to heaven? Is that firmly embedded in your psyche? Because, if it isn’t, alternate paths here on earth might sidetrack you and you will not get to your desired destination. So, where do you want to go?
FAITH ACTION: Ask God for the grace and discernment necessary to remain on the path that leads to His Kingdom.