Focus on your destination

Last week, on my way home I got on to the same bus with one of my neigbour's daughters. As we approached our stop, I assumed that she would have pulled the cord to request for the bus to stop at "our" stop. All of a sudden I noticed that the light hadn't lit up so I quickly pulled the cord.

When the bus stopped, I alighted and expected that she would also get off the bus. As I walked home alone, the Holy Spirit said to me

"Mind your own journey...focus on your destination." 

I kept pondering on this till I got home that day. I started wondering how many times I have erroneously assumed that someone else and I had the same goal or destination in mind.

Here I was saying that we had the same stop only to realize that we were not going to the same spot. Yes, I used "spot" on purpose because getting off at the same stop with others doesn't mean that you are going to the same spot. Now let me quickly mention that there was another stop after the bus did it's loop in our community that she could also get off at. So on the flip side, the fact that she didn't get off at the same stop as I did, meant that she would eventually get off at a later stop to come to the same "spot" i.e. street as I was going to.

Transposing this to everyday life, we cannot live our lives based on another person's schedule. Even if you are inspired by someone and aspire to be like them, we must remember that we are each unique and not a replica of anyone else. If you try to copy someone else, the best you'll be is a "second version" not an original.

I'd be happy to coach you on how to chart your own unique path and fulfill your purpose in life. Contact me via email: sapphireandberyl@gmail.com or inbox me. The 1st ½ hour will be free...

'Went', 'Sent' or 'Kept'?

A few years ago I  had in interesting 'Thank you' situation. As I pondered on it, because it really bothered me, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to Jesus' experience in Luke 17:11-19; let's read:

11 While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee.  12 As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance;  13 and they raised their voices and called out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean.  15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying and praising and honoring God with a loud voice;  16 and he lay face downward at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. He was a Samaritan.  17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten [of you] cleansed? Where are the [other] nine?  18 Was there no one found to return and to give thanks and praise to God, except this foreigner?”  19 Jesus said to him, “Get up and go [on your way]. Your faith [your personal trust in Me and your confidence in God’s power] has restored you to health.” (AMP)

He then went on to expound this saying that when it comes to giving God (and men) thanks, we all fall into one of three categories:
- Went
- Sent
- Kept

Some of us, take the time and effort to "go" directly to God to express our gratitude and appreciation. When it's a human being, we want to thank, that person hears our voice - either face to face, via a call or even a voice message. These are in the 'Went' category.

The 2nd category are those of us who use an indirect medium to express our thanks without expressing it ourselves. As an example, asking someone to thank God or a person on your behalf without having direct contact with the Him or the person i.e. without reaching out to God or the person ourselves. For me, depending on the depth of the relationship, text messages fall into this 'Sent' category (pun intended).

The 3rd category is the 'Kept.' Essentially, we fall into this group when we do not even bother to say 'Thank You.' These people keep the thanks to themselves.

As I meditated on this, it occurred to me that the word that represented each category was further in the alphabet; almost as if it was commensurate to the level of effort required at each one: K ->S ->W.

At the end, all I could do was ask God to forgive me for when I have 'sent', or even worse 'kept', my thanks to Him or to others. I pray for grace to be in the 'Went' category more often than not.

Note: I recognize that sometimes the line between the 'Went' and the 'Sent' categories are blurred. However, I know that we know when they are not the same. Whatever happens, don't be or stay in the 'Kept' category.

May you and always have multiple reasons to say 'Thank you' to God and others.

Happy Thanksgiving...may it not just be a day in your life, rather a way of life.