trajectory

Choose your trajectory. Choose life.

This year, as in many past, my heart swells and aches with the joy and loss of watching seniors I adore (and one very special still high school student soaring early) fly into the world after graduation. Here are some thoughts, collected and scattered, some new but some repeated, that I shared with them one evening...

I know I've spoken it before over you as a group and individually and written it, but I cannot escape the longing prayer over you that you would recognize that today, this very day, the Lord has set before you life and death. And it seems so obvious, but it gets muddied so easily, if you choose life, you'll live (Deut 30:15-20). To live, in His love and so walking with him, obeying Him and clinging to Him…this is life.

Choices either lead towards life or death. There is no neutral. Each moment, each choice, each thought, each step... you can choose life.

And I know you, I know your hearts, that you are God's children. And you have been given the very mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), so you can not be conflicted but be confident as you step out and choose life. And I’m confident He is not surprised or ambivalent when it comes to what you face. And I’m confident that He is confident.

And in choosing life, you are fixing your gaze on Life Himself (Hebrews 12:1-2). With your gaze set securely on Life Himself, you can fly! You can run and not falter, not trip, not get pulled side to side. Because your sights are set on the target, you can let loose and fly!

If your eyes leave the target, if your gaze slips from the One who offers life, you'll be soaring off course. Maybe now, young, resilient, just brave enough to be a bit stupid sometimes, you'll feel like you're getting away with it. But the trajectory of your life... if you follow out the choices... will be far from the target. Far from Life. Each moment, each choice, each thought, each step... is either towards life or death.

And here's the beautiful thing, there is grace. There is redemption. There is restoration. But dear one, do not presume upon God's lavish grace. And know this, each choice, even if forgiven, even if restored, even if redeemed, will have consequences and scars. And God, in His great love, may not remove the consequences. At times, He may. But please, please do not test Him in this. Rest in the grace to choose Life. Not the grace to redeem choices of Death.

Here's another truth you need to know... There's so much pressure to know what you want to do with the rest of your life right now. But anyone who tells you at 18 that they know what they're going to do with their life, is flat out lying. Oh, they may know bits. But to say them firmly know the entire course, is just masked fear...clamping down to make a choice to be done with the whole process of the unknown. Be free! Only the Lord knows your path. You can make plans (and please do), but the Lord will direct your steps. One of the most beautiful films I know (titled “Bella”) opens in a fabulous Spanish accent with the line, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Seek Him, and do make plans, but walk by faith. Hold those plans loosely and Him tightly. Take each step by faith, choosing Life. But you don't have to reach the target all at once. You have a lifetime, however many days are appointed for you to live, to reach that target. Just seek the Lord and choose Life in each moment, fixing your gaze on Him, and fly. Just take each breath, each moment, each choice, each thought, each step as it comes and choose Life. Don't worry with the enormity of each decision along the way. Just stay in step with Him. Choose your trajectory. Choose life. Fix your gaze. Fly.

And if you choose life, then those following after you, in your steps (because people are), will be free to live too. Because the weight of your choices don’t just impact you, they impact those your life touches. And your life touches many.

I'm one of them. And I adore you. And I entrust you to the One Who is able to guard you (2 Timothy 1:8-14).

And I'll say it one more time, choose Life. That you may Live. Fly arrows!

Now I'm going to go cry. And plan my visits to come see you... Just kidding... But maybe not...

(I have been thinking and praying this since February but want to thank Louie Gigglio this summer for the arrow illustration that is the perfect reminder of this concept!)