One Fine Wire.

I just finished reading the book I talked about in my last post and I can't believe how much of it I NEEDED at the moment. After everything I've been worrying about over the past year, it's as if He told me to pick up this book in order to say "STOP COMPLAINING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OK!" I'm thankful that I'm home for most of the Summer because it's giving me some much needed space and alone time. I know that Summer should be a time to go out/party and I will eventually get to that aspect within the next month or so, but right now I just need to prepare myself for what's ahead. I need to make sure that I'm ready for good news or bad news. Most importantly, I want to be able to understand each possible outcome. In short, I've been investing much of my time towards building some inner-peace. I know that may sound "hippie-like" or whatever but I guess I just really learned the importance of self-meditation in my faith & human development class last semester. I've used those techniques to get me through my most stressful days and they worked, so I'm hoping that I will be able to conquer my greatest fear right now...failure.

Thankfully, this book has been such a great read and it eased a lot of my worries. Of course, most of it was common-sense stuff coming from a Catholic background, but nevertheless I took something from it. And I think the last chapter on finding your destiny is what hit home for me just because I'm having trouble with assessing what it is I truly want to achieve in my own life. I have certain ideals that I want to pursue, but there's no way of exactly knowing how to get there, or if I ever will. And that can be a scary thought, right? Not being able to reach your absolute goals. But the author expressed that...

"There's a reason that God doesn't always tell us our destiny right away but prefers instead to reveal it to us little by little. It's because He's interested in not only what we're going to accomplish but also what kind of person we're going to be at the time we accomplish it. And sometimes the "journey" is what helps mold us into better human beings. Indeed, the journey is often what makes life enjoyable. All of the things we experience in life- from the time we're little children right up to the present moment- can help us prepare for the greatness God has in store for us. Even the bad things- the mistakes, the frustrations, the disasters and tragedies- can help lead us to our destiny. God wastes nothing. That's why we ultimately have to thank him for everything. We have to ultimately say in the words of one popular song, "God bless the broken road that led me straight to you."

Such a simple, yet powerful statement. It's not anything I haven't heard before, but I feel like its changed my perspective. What's "in-store" for me is what I'm mostly concerned about, but I'm still thanking Him regardless of the mess I've made of myself. I'm just hoping that this "mess" will eventually lead to something amazing. The best part of the book is the ending prayer that combines all of the prayers mentioned in the chapters. I think it'll be a start to say this prayer everyday because that's the least I can do for Him.

The "Yes" Prayer
With praise for all you are Lord and thanks for all you bless; Lord, grant these ten petitions with your eternal Yes:
Please show me that you're there when I can't see your face; send troubled souls my way, their wounds I will erase.
Let me see with your eyes, my mind with your thoughts fill; but more than wisdom, give me the strength to do your will.
Bless me with abundance then put me to the test; gladly will I give you much more than I possess.
Send me your tranquility in troubled times and calm; with loving arms sustain me through suffering and harm.
Forgive me for my sins though legion they may be; when death and evil triumph, bring good from tragedy.
But most of all reveal the meaning of my life, the purpose of my glories, the reason for my strife. My destiny in Heaven, no tears to flow again, my God please grant me all; In Christ Our Lord, Amen.