Our path in life

We were able to attend a small graduation celebration for my niece and nephew last night. It was a joy to be able to celebrate with them. These two young people, full of youthful promise and expectation. As their Aunt, it made me feel rather old, but mostly nostalgic. These two little bundles entered the world almost 18 years ago and now they stand on the cusp of adulthood.

Almost eight million years ago, I was also in their situation. A young woman looking at the rest of my life. All the plans! All the dreams! I could do anything. I began charting my course. There was a definite idea of where my life would head and how life would go. It makes me smile now, as well, little or none of those plans happened as I expected.

I know this is universal. I know you have felt this way too. Our lives unfold, one step at a time. We do have agency. We do chart our course. The largest decisions we make to go left or right belong to us. But the rocks and bumps in the road are hard to navigate and God guides us through this. He is the good shepherd leading us by calm waters and protecting us through dark vales.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.