Completing The Perfect Call

I had the pleasure of having an extended conversation with my younger daughter from Tulsa last night.  She was bursting with excitement as she explained many of the events that she has been experiencing over the last few weeks.  Included in these events was the completion of certain stages of some long term dreams/goals that she had set in her youth.  She spoke of the self satisfaction that she felt in finally seeing some of the steps to her life goals being accomplished. 

In the course of the conversation, JoAnna related some incidents in the past when some members of our extended family had voiced doubts concerning the dreams that she desired to follow in life.  They suggested a different, more tradition course, one that they felt was more secure… a direction that was closer to the one that they had followed in their own lives.  As my daughter recalled these times (that actually occurred on numerous occasions), she began to share with me the importance of listening to your heart while not allowing other people’s doubts to sway you from the calling you feel led to follow. 

Dreams are a very personal part of each of us.  They come from deep inside and at times may be unbelievable to others.  In fact, I think that one person’s dreams can actually scare another person because they are so different, so personal and so individual.  There is a story in the first book of the Bible where a boy by the name of Joseph told his brothers of the dreams that he had.  His brothers did not understand him, and became confused and  annoyed at his stories.  It finally came to the point where the older brothers feigned his death and sold him into slavery so that they wouldn’t have to deal with this one who was so different from the rest of them.  (read Genesis chapter 37)  Granted this was a pretty strong approach, but it illustrates a point. 

There are those who will not understand the dreams that you have had, and desire to follow.  In response to this, they will refer back to and gives directives based on their own experiences because these are comfortable with them.  And while the advice they give you may have been a good thing for them to adhere to, it may not be the best for you.  Please don’t misunderstand me here!  I’m not implying that we always reject council received from others, I am only suggesting that their advice may not always be the “Gospel truth” since that they may not understand the leadings in life that are unique to you.  I always try to make a point to gain a good understanding of those I am with before I council them.  I attempt to put myself in their shoes so that I can have a better understanding of their point of view, of their background and of their personal belief system.

My daughter is elated at seeing her plans and dreams, that have taken many years to reach this point, coming to a head.  She’s walked a sometimes rocky road, and will still have some mountains in front of her, but is proceeding with a confident and persistent attitude.  She is pleased now, that she did not allow herself to be bumped from her course by allowing others who doubted her dream to cause her to fall short of what she believes to be the perfect call of God for her life.  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself…”What am I expecting today?”