The gate is down, The lights are flashing, The train IS coming!

Every once in awhile I shock myself with some profound thinking. Yesterday was one of those days. I was thinking upon the mystery of the free will. Why is it that we are not free to do the things we really want to do at times? If we want the rooms in our houses to be nicer, the quality of our life to be better socially, physically, mentally, spiritually then why is it that we seem bound or hindered from being successful or accomplishing these dreams? Is it really because we don't have the time, money, guts etc. to do those things? We complain about our lack, but rarely own responsibility for it's presence in our lives. It's always someone or something else's fault. Even when we own up to it at times we sometimes just can't seem to make it happen.

Then I thought about the effort that it would take to keep our houses clean, and beautiful, and organized, the inspiration needed to be constantly bettering one's self through enrichment classes and the like, the time required to devote to those things that make our lives better, more enjoyable, more valuable. I thought, "My word! It would take a tremendous amount of ENERGY to do all that!" Then it occured to me that is why it is so important to take care of our bodies and be healthy. So, we can have the energy to devote to living the best life possible.

It follows also that our choices must be disciplined in order to accomplish the things we truly want. We must look ahead to the future as well as keep our attention on the present. We live in a society diseased with instant gratification and because of that we are destroying the quality of our lives piece by piece. It is important then to distinguish between what we want and what we really want! There are days when I don't want to go to class, but I want to get a teaching degree. Therefore, my real desire is to go to school even though I don't want to attend class all the time. Why complain then?

I think that Paul had it right when he said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."

I think it is also right to keep balance in this by not being "content" with things that we have been given the power and grace to to make better. We must take responsibility for the change needed in our lives, be content in spite those things that can't be changed (grace), and have discernment to know the difference between the two.