Daily lesson for April 17, 2015

Today's daily lesson comes from Psalm 16 verse 11:

"You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Stephanie, one of our pastors at church, is leading a class on designed to help people discover their gifts and live out their calling. I thought it was beautiful that among those who attended the class on Wednesday night were a college student discerning her major and a recently widowed 90-year-old woman who is looking for the next act in life. Where else can you find that except at church?

Stephanie's handout from Wednesday night's class included a quote from the novelist E.L. Doctorow specifically about writing, but also about life:

"Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."

I think one of the things Stephanie is trying to do is encourage us all not to be anxious about the trip, but to take it slow, enjoy the ride, and let what's down the road be revealed in its own due time. In other words, trust the road and trust ourselves on the road. 

The lesson from the psalmist today says, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy." It seems to be saying the same thing another quote I thought of during Stephanie's class says.  This one is from the great mystic Howard Thurman:

"Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Discovering our call is really about letting our lives and hearts speak to us. It is about discovering our joy and doing it.  We can do that in college, and at 90, and every step in between. We can make the whole trip that way; and we can be joyously alive while doing it. 

To God be the glory . . .