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LET YOUR INNER COMPASS GUIDE
YOU THROUGH LIFE
The journey of life is made up of
many, many unexpected turns and detours. The road passes through
beautiful scenery and pleasant places, but it also has its
chug-holes, cul-de-sacs, bridges out and other travel hazards. There
are constant distractions that can take our concentration away from
getting to our destination. The road is constantly giving us forks
and intersections that force us to make decisions about which way to
go. It is not an simple journey we are on.
So how do we make the trip
successfully? Several years ago I heard Steven Covey, the originator
of the Seven Habits material, say that most of us manage our lives
depending heavily on the clock and the calendar to manage our time
and help make our decisions. He suggested that the more important
tool for all of us is the compass. It is the compass that points to
true north and provides us with an orientation for knowing where we
are and how we can reach our destination.
By the Grace of God, we who are
believers in Jesus Christ, have that inner compass for life
available. It includes the inner witness of the Spirit of God who
guides us. It is more expressed in the life model provided by Jesus
Christ, as God clothed himself in humanity to show us his ideal for
human living. The compass is partly defined in the wisdom and
instruction of the Bible. It includes our individual sense of calling
and ultimate life purpose. All of these elements form the inner
compass that helps us navigate life effectively.
The compass provides us with help
in making decisions and managing life. At every turn in the road we
can ask ourselves questions like, "What would Jesus do?; What is
the Spirit of God leading me to do in this situation?; What
overarching Biblical principle informs this decision?; What decision
in this circumstance helps me to stay on track with my essential
calling and life purpose?"
The compass helps you to say
"no" to good things that are not the best things for you.
When asked to serve on a committee or a board, we can ask ourselves,
"Is this opportunity in line with my life purpose?" If the
answer to that question is "no," then the answer to the
invitation is "no." The best reason anyone ever gives for
refusing an invitation to serve is to simply say, "I don't
believe this particular opportunity is in keeping with my life purpose."
The wise traveler makes sure that
he or she has a compass for the journey. Do you know what your own
personal life purpose is? Do you have it written down and memorized
so that it is always with you? The next test of effective living is
whether you use your compass. Some people go to the time and effort
to define their life mission, but then fail to apply it to the basic
decisions and choices of everyday life.
Keep your calendar, your clock,
your personal data organizer and your maps. These are all helpful
tools. But, live your life according to your compass. Let it point
you in the right direction. Refuse to be drawn off course by the
distractions and detours that will be put in your way. Let your
compass be your guide.
Bob Perry
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