Watch my corn pop up in rows
Every night be tucked in close to you
Raise our kids where the good lord’s blessed
Point our rockin’ chairs towards the west
And plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows
Where the green grass grows"
Tim McGraw
A friend of mine, or more like a ridiculously good looking male acquaintance, spoke with me recently about how many times we don't know what to do or how to move forward in our lives because we lack an awareness of our own purpose. Discovering our purpose will somehow remedy our confusion. I know for myself, that I rarely consider my own purposefulness. Does my purpose consist of getting myself to Heaven and taking you with me? If so, while this is a beautiful purpose, it doesn't help me determine whether I will turn to the left or to the right so long as both directions are good. Does my purpose rely on my gifts and talents? This is the scarier question. If you asked me what I consider to be my gifts, you would most likely roll your eyes or think "oh, that's cute". I'm good at giving people attention, smiling at them, lightening the mood and making sure everyone is having a good time. Does this mean that my purpose is to throw parties every night of the week? How will I make a living doing so? Can I move up, win awards and achieve success in order to prove that I've accomplished life? And can you point me in the direction of such a career?
"Trust in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" Jeremiah 29:11
While the pressure of the world, both secular and Christian at times, is telling me that I need to make a mark for myself in order to show that I'm working hard and growing up and making progress, the desires of my heart are much more basic. My desire is for time. I want time to bake, time to run marathons, time to listen to you and time to grow in virtue. My desire is for adventure. I want to see the Eiffel Tower, tip over in a canoe and ride in a hot air balloon. My desire is to give you smiles and tell you that you're wonderful. I would like to share in your suffering and rejoice in your joy. I desire to drink iced tea with my future beloved on my future front porch.
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew 25:13So, if my time is short, maybe my purpose should be using that time wisely. The wisest choice would be to follow my heart. A wonderful, holy and bearded friend talked to me about the importance of our hearts. The images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary are maybe trying to tell us something, he says. This is that our hearts are important.
So...what the hell is my heart telling me? If I figure it out, then maybe I can tell you what I want to be when I grow up.
"Just follow your heart. That's what I do." Napoleon Dynamite
Immaculate Heart of Mary...pray for us
