Life is God's novel. Let him write it. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer
When I was in Elementary school I loved to read a series of books called Choose Your Own Adventure. Although I had no control over the environment I was placed in, I was given an opportunity to make decisions about my future, which would lead me to all kinds of outcomes, never what I expected. Sometimes, I would read a book twice, and try to change the fate of my character by remembering the choices I had made in the first read. Real life isn’t like that; you only get one read.
However, this is an interesting way to view human control, or lack thereof, over life. Some people believe that we write our own life stories, but I think it’s a collaborative effort between us and God, just like the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Life presents us with opportunities and choices, and God waits to see what we do with these situations. I think we are just characters in a bigger story, that isn’t revolving around us individually. We’re all connected by our individual choices, and the energy of our actions affects others beyond our limited comprehension.
Looking at life as “God’s novel” takes a whole lot of pressure off of me, in a sense, because I don’t have to make things happen for myself. I just have to open my senses and try to be aware of the choices. From this perspective, change can be viewed as a blessing, because it means my story isn’t stagnant. Sometimes the chapters are filled with joy, or deep sadness. Sometimes I’m terrified, confused or just plain bored, (like Dickens on a complex sentence rampage), but the excitement lies in the fact that I can turn the page every day. Eve Merriam wrote that “Morning is a new sheet of paper for you to write on.” I say, it’s for God to write on, for me to read, and choose a direction.
How much control do you have over life? Let’s talk about it. Send me a comment. :)
When I was in Elementary school I loved to read a series of books called Choose Your Own Adventure. Although I had no control over the environment I was placed in, I was given an opportunity to make decisions about my future, which would lead me to all kinds of outcomes, never what I expected. Sometimes, I would read a book twice, and try to change the fate of my character by remembering the choices I had made in the first read. Real life isn’t like that; you only get one read.
However, this is an interesting way to view human control, or lack thereof, over life. Some people believe that we write our own life stories, but I think it’s a collaborative effort between us and God, just like the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Life presents us with opportunities and choices, and God waits to see what we do with these situations. I think we are just characters in a bigger story, that isn’t revolving around us individually. We’re all connected by our individual choices, and the energy of our actions affects others beyond our limited comprehension.
Looking at life as “God’s novel” takes a whole lot of pressure off of me, in a sense, because I don’t have to make things happen for myself. I just have to open my senses and try to be aware of the choices. From this perspective, change can be viewed as a blessing, because it means my story isn’t stagnant. Sometimes the chapters are filled with joy, or deep sadness. Sometimes I’m terrified, confused or just plain bored, (like Dickens on a complex sentence rampage), but the excitement lies in the fact that I can turn the page every day. Eve Merriam wrote that “Morning is a new sheet of paper for you to write on.” I say, it’s for God to write on, for me to read, and choose a direction.
How much control do you have over life? Let’s talk about it. Send me a comment. :)
(picture above is from Flickr, a Venice beach)
7 comments:
This is really lovely and thoughtful.
I still play Chooose Your Adventure on a nightly basis. If I don't like the "ending" of my dream, I will wake up, tell myself to go back into the dream, and change the ending!
I try to change the ending of some dreams, but I usually can't.
What a neat analogy. Personally, as a kid, I hated the "choose your own adventure" -- I just wanted the author to write the story. Yet I agree with you that it works as a way of viewing how God works in our life. :)
I've always tried to express that thought. Thank you, God, for leading me to Loren's well-said ideas, and allowing me to choose the paths I think that are best!
Keep 'em comin'.
In the many years between our last conversations from our SJC days and our recent re-aquaintance via Facebook, one of the lasting memories I had of you was how you approached your faith and how genuine it appeared to me as someone who to this day struggles with it. This passage really captures it in a beautiful way. It's nice to know that you still hold that point of view and that you are willing to share with and inspire the rest of us out here in cyberspace.
GT
Thanks GT! I thoroughly appreciate your cybercheers!
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