Right Where I'm Supposed to Be

 

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."  

I'll be honest, I've never seen Chariots of Fire (I know, you don't have to ridicule me, others have already taken care of that), but when I heard this quote during a sermon a few weeks ago, it took root in my soul somewhere. I decided that day, I wanted to live my life in the midst and presence of God's will - I want to feel His pleasure.

In considering the meaning of this, I took a quick inventory of my life experiences to try and identify pockets of time when I could empathize with exactly what Eric Liddell was feeling when he uttered those words.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the moments that stuck out the most were also times when I felt really "right" with myself. 

I think about the end of my high school career, when I was dedicating nearly all of my energy to dancing and getting good grades. Those performances were, by far, some of my best. I remember the day my hard work paid off and I was accepted to the university I so deeply wanted to attend. I sift through the ups and downs of my college years and recall some of my proudest moments using my gifts to create, choreograph and perform. As a young professional, even when work and interpersonal relationships seemed too hard, those struggles proved to be some of the most rewarding experiences. And now, in a new home, with my still newlywed husband, our little pup and a million adventures still to take together, I, once again, feel God's pleasure.

Thanksgiving is a time when people, the nation over, give thanks for the blessings in their lives. They pronounce (even if only on facebook) their gratefulness for health and love and family and friendship (and food). Oftentimes, I believe many people do not even know who they are thanking or why it feels so good to give thanks - and yet, ask 100 Americans what their favorite holiday is and my guess is at least 90% would say Thanksgiving. 

But when your life is characterized by a desire to seek and experience God's pleasure, every step you take, all year, becomes an act of thanksgiving. I've come to understand that the best way to express gratefulness is by living out your life always as an act of worship, as a response to the blessings you've been given and as an offering being returned to our Creator.

This year, as I have been reflecting on my desire to live a life that is bursting at the seams with thanksgiving (and not because I ate waaayyyyy too much at dinner on Thursday), I've realized that right now, in this moment, I feel right in the middle of God's will. Said another way, we're in a really good place right now. In fact, it is a little trippy!

That's not to say there still isn't uncertainty as to what the future will hold for us - children, new jobs, perhaps another move - but the confidence with which I am facing that uncertain future is radical and freeing. The unknown used to trouble and worry me a great deal, but as I seek to live in the presence of God's perfect will for me, I am at peace knowing He has already taken care of that for us. 

So while everyone is saying thanks for the things they have already experienced this year, I'd like to add to the list that I am grateful for the future that has been laid out before me. I know that no matter what, I will be right where I'm supposed to be and I will feel His pleasure.