Taking the scenic route...

In college, following cherished afternoons at my sister's house, I was often found en route from the north side of Indianapolis to my college home to the south. Driving down 465, I happily anticipated cutting west on 75, watching the city skyline grow up into full view. On special days, tossing time constraints to the wind, I took the exit ramp onto a side street, yearning to be stitched into the city scene that I so admired. While my wheels carved out the right angles of the city blocks and my feet danced between accelerator and brake, my eyes took in the people cutting along the sidewalks through the maze of high rise buildings. From the ranks of lights lining the offices above to the sleepy lights of the cafes below, the old adage rang true: a city never sleeps.

Though I may have sacrificed some valuable studying or sleeping to take these detours, I knew I wouldn't regret taking the time to divert my attention from the destination and enjoying the ride.

People often say it's the journey, not the destination that matters the most. I tend to agree, especially in light of my recent fixation with planning for the future. I am discerning the best way I know how: praying, seeking counsel from the Body of Christ, using my God-given intelligence, and trusting God. But, more often than not, an additional component tends to sift its way into the discernment process, threatening to spoil its crop: worry. And, I believe that the seed of this worry is pride and mistrust. This is inexcusable because I serve an all-knowing God. He is bringing me on this journey of discernment to teach me more about Him. Knowing the author of my life gives me insight into the storyline, but my story is only an excerpt of His larger, more important story.

Ultimately, though my life doesn't regularly admit it, being a Christian takes away the guesswork from making decisions about vocation because the journey and the destination are one in the same: knowing God.

"A man plans his course, but the Lord directs his path." Proverbs 16:9
I'm planning my course, but I will go on whichever path the Lord leads.