So, what gives me direction in life? I hope I understand the question, but I think of it in terms of strategies to achieve goals and solve problems. I remember back in my college days, I’d approach the exams in June and think that I’d be the happiest person on earth when I finished the last one. But then, after the final exam, I’d lose my sense of direction for a few days until I found a new problem to solve 😀.
I problem-solve at many different levels. You need to consider the six pillars of wellbeing:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Relationships
- Career
- Finances
- Spiritual
Needless to say, checking and working on these gives direction. And then, consider activities that might seem meaningless or useless to others. But these aren’t neccessarily without value. For example, hobbies can help us with physical and mental wellbeing and with relationships, if they have a social dimension. So, bird spotting, train spotting or learning to play the bagpipes isn’t necessarily a waste of time 😀. These give us a sense of direction.
So, direction in little things is significant. And more important is the biggest goal, that’s summed up in the Westminster Cathecism:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
But how do you do that? Going back to hobbies, if someone has a passion for football, you get the impression that football is what they generally think about, talk about, and spend their time on. And to glorify God is to get to know him and delight in him. So, a Christian will spend much time in God’s word and prayer at an individual and social level. And that spills over into loving others and also into appreciating and enjoying his creation.
So, that is what gives me direction at the deepest level, but all sorts of things can give me direction at other levels, from solving the daily problems that life throws at me to little hobbies, such as writing this blog. Maybe no-one will ever look at it, but I find that I’m enjoying it because it’s making me reflect on my life. And the very possibility that it might help someone else in some way motivates me. I’ve been helped by so many others throughout my life – in all sorts of ways.
One of my favourite New Testament verses is the Apostle Paul describing what gave him direction:
Philippians 1:21 -24
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Well, you might think that this is all very well for someone like Paul, who obviously had a huge impact on history. However, whoever we are, we can aim to live for Christ and play our little part in shaping history.
This all brings to mind the old hymn, There’s a Work for Jesus.
Hibernia Gospel 