Different Focus

As I've been reading this past week I've found that I really need this book right now. Not in a "Oh yeah that's a good point in the book", but in a "WOW Did he really just say that...because that is my life RIGHT NOW!" One part that I recently resonated with was in Ch. 5 when the author talks about Lieutenant Dan in "Forrest Gump" and his ongoing inability to see God's intent for his life while recklessly pursuing lust and pain in hopes to numb his mind from his bitter past. Yep that's me. Okay maybe not to the same extreme, but in many ways I can see the Lord changing my trajectory in this area. In the past I've run to relationships, alcohol, lust and pity to resolve the need for God's fulfillment, or at least the knowledge of what He's doing in my life.

 Over the past few years and now I see God changing the way I perceive and process my life's struggles. Like Lt. Dan and many others I focus way too much on the struggle or "thing" I'm facing. I certainly identify with it more than God. I could see this plain as day after reading that part of the book, church sermon and the leadership meeting. ALL TODAY. It was like God had a blinking sign over Himself that said "Hey You Here's Your Answer". To identify with the sin or struggle that you're facing is placing a blinder on God's intent and will for your life. It's cutting yourself off from reflecting His glory and goodness onto others. It is the death of your personal ministry. And that's what I've been doing. And this is where I'm stopping.

On the brighter side I love the way that my roommates and I are connecting over this book. It has brought us to a more open and genuine place in our friendships and I can say that I know now that I'm right where I'm supposed to be.