Following and Forcing

A basic belief that life is a bigger story than simply the story of us would lead anyone to believe that there must be a plan for life, and that plan must be discovered and followed. The Planner of the plan has a plan for every life. When worry and doubt cloud our abilities to figure out the plan, it’s not a stretch to assume that the plan is being forced and not followed. Forcing is not listening, not trusting, not humble, not surrendered, and not best. Following is focused on knowing that there is a plan, it’s lining up with that plan, it’s listening, it’s trusting, it’s humble, it’s surrendered, and it is the best option for living with purpose. I think forcing is a symptom and expression of selfishness. Forcing only happens when something isn’t meeting our expectations or desires. When things are one way and we think they should be another, we force. When things don’t meet our comforts, we force. When things give an advantage to another person over us, we force. We manipulate, and conform, our circumstances according to whatever we desire. Isn’t this the American dream? Making your life into something important, something great, and something worthwhile? The American dream doesn’t have to be baptized in the fire of selfish expression and then forced. It can be an expression of diligent and selfless following.