Many people would like to be in my shoes right now. I can almost choose my career thanks to the generosity of my parents paying for nearly every dime of my college education. Unfortunately, no amount of money or education can clearly reveal God's will for my life.
The fact of the matter is us young men, whether we all know it or not, hold a great deal of power in our hands at the green age of 20 right before entering a career. Our choices at this time in our lives do not simply determine the destiny of ourselves. If that was the case, our situation would be infinitely easier but instead our decisions regarding our career not only determine our destinies but ultimately the destinies of our wives, children and the generations to follow. From what kind of home we will live in to the kind of clothes our kids will wear to whether we will be able to afford to show our love to your wives and children by providing well for them or whether we will constantly struggle to provide just the bare necessities to them.
On our shoulders rests the well being many and heavy lies the yoke when no field is present to be plowed.
The world tells us "Go now, the world is your oyster!" but the vast majority of us have no idea how to make pearls from mere bits of sand. Some of us have trouble even identifying the bits of sand that are worth turning into pearls. Should we choose what whatever bit of sand happens our way? Should we let others choose for us? Or should choose what we love? That dream you always cherished but assumed was out of reach because you couldn't afford it or everyone expected something different from you.
Again, the bucket of cold water in the face is the simple pragmatic fact that the world does not deal in happiness. The world deals in the unforgiving dollar and whatever you choose you must choose wisely so that you can keep you and yours shod, housed and fed.
But what happens when God reminds you that what you love can be made profitable with hard work and initial sacrifice?
I say you chase it down with all you've got. Chase that bit of sand and pray that God will grant you the ability to do all you can with it and the wisdom to know it's not your whole world.
-JD
