a matter of spiritual resonance...

Why is it that some folks are certain of what God is telling them to do with their lives while the lot of us are a stinking mess when it comes to understanding God's will for us? When do we know that something is God's plan and not "my" plan?

I know that I get very cynical when someone tells me what "God told them" and maybe you do as well.  I am perpetually questioning what is my will vs what is God's will. My ego gets in the way. My frustrations cloud my good judgement and I wonder if the things I am most passionate about are the things God wants me to engage or if it's a simple matter of what I want.

This is why St. Paul tells us to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God..." (Romans 12:2). If we truly believe that the Spirit of God is at work in us, then we need to put our thoughts to the test. So how do we do that if we're not spending time reading Scripture, in prayer and in holy conversations with fellow disciples? It's not possible! If you're anything like me, you complain that you're pretty bogged down by work schedules, and other distractions to take the time to do this (it's amazing how I'll even use my church job as an excuse to avoid being in tune with God). Well if you're anything like me, then you and I need to shut up and shape up. That's right. I said it.

So where do we start?

We live in a world that moves so fast. We spend so much time trying to keep up that we are often incapable of slowing down to recognize the presence of God in our midst. Test this one. Go ahead. Test it. Sit down. Stop talking, surfing the web, shopping for Christmas presents. Just stop. Let the initial anxiety over the need to be productive pass. It'll come back, I promise. But for now, stop.Wait. Let your mind flush all of its thoughts out. Let 'em run until they fade away. Then, wait some more. You'll know what you're waiting for...

"Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'"

- 1 Kings 19: 11-13

"Good is just one letter away from God"

So I did it again. I opened my mouth without thinking. In my most recent theological conversation at the pub, the Spirit somehow moved us into a brief "chat"about Atheism/Agnosticism and how we/God reconcile with the GOOD people we love but have been in someway pushed away from the Church/organized religion. etc. And like a blithering idiot I said it. "Good is just one letter away from God." That's right I made a funny. An insignificant nothing of a comment. Or so I thought. I immediately forgot about the comment until the next day when one of my companions on this "beers and bibles extravaganza" questioned my meaning of this seemingly innocuous quip.

Suddenly realizing that I really need to pay attention to myself a little more I responded as best I could:
If I were to expound upon the notion, "Good is just one letter away from God," (being that this really only applies in English) I would say that no matter what we believe in the way of faith, lives focused on goodness, eventually, in God's time, lead us to God. God is the essence of goodness. Where there is good there is God smiling in the face of his ignorant creation. Let's face it, God is unavoidable as much as we try and everyone in some way, shape or form comes into a deeper sense of being and purpose- whether they admit it or not. That's what happens when grace hits us in the face in the form of "joy"- the bi-product of doing good. God's little hallmark card reminding us, "Hey. That's right. I did that. Just for you. But not JUST for YOU. Word- spread it. Love ya, G-money."

Responses? Notable insight? Cogent formulations?
Hmm. Verbal diarrhea. Listen for it....... asd;fnreasfnh;dkafihqwiehfw.  Sorry, I'll pay for that.