THE CROSSROADS

I’ve run away from home this morning and I’m impressed with McDonalds. I’ve not been here in years and I find it clean and redecorated. I have big plans – pick up my Sausage McGriddle and settle into a quiet place at the back of the public library to finish a blog. Simple, right? Nope, the library doesn’t open until 9:00. But I’m adaptable (when forced) so I’ll eat here and then work as I wait on the library.

I wrote a blog ages ago but it was too long, so I split it into two. It’s still too long so I’ve got to cut it up more. I open my tablet and seeing the title I feel a wave of rebellion against it. My passion is to write books. Trying to keep up with blogging around taking care of my mom (who is 99 now) doesn’t leave much time for writing books.

Sitting on this hard booth staring at the screen I consider forcing myself to plow through. However, this time I pay attention to my reaction and question it. Why am I torturing myself doing something I dislike so much? I’ve struggled with this for many years but this morning I’m looking at my writing from a different perspective.

It began a few days ago as I was hanging out with Jesus. That morning I asked if Holy Spirit could join us as I had some questions. Of course Holy Spirit is within us but visuals and context work better for me than the vagueness of abstract knowledge.

One thing I asked Holy Spirit was what to do about my writing (or lack of writing). The first thing he did was ask me, “What do you want?”

I know he already knows what I want better than I do but he wants me to recognize it.
“I don’t know, Holy Spirit. But I need you to please give me a direction. A confirmation. I don’t trust my ability to hear clearly on this.

As I say that I see a crossroads with the little pointy signs in each direction. Holy Spirit shows me I’m at a crossroads and I can choose the same old path I’ve been on forever or I can choose a new one.

I suddenly remember a book on my shelf – The Crossroads of Should and Must – Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna. It has a picture of the crossroad signs and one says SHOULD and the other says MUST.

The book says, “It’s permission to unlearn everything you’ve ever been told you should do in order to learn what you must.”…

Should is how other people want us to live our lives. It’s all of the expectations that others layer upon us. … When we choose Should, we’re choosing to live our life for someone or something other than ourselves.

Must is different. Must is who we are, what we believe, and what we do when we are alone with our truest, most authentic self. It’s that which calls to us most deeply. It’s our convictions, our passions, our deepest held urges and desires – unavoidable, undeniable, and inexplicable.”

I’ve decided to stop trying to make my blogs perfect and just be real. That will free up more time to write the books on my heart plus show you my unadorned pursuit of Jesus. :)

Holy Spirit will be leading and helping me whichever path I choose but I’m ready to do something different. Therefore I’m going with the new, unknown path. I’m changing my official blog posts to be simpler and less formal. They’ll still come (and hopefully more often!) but I’m focusing my time more on writing books. Yay!

My question for you today is this – Is Holy Spirit showing you a crossroads? Is he asking you to follow your Must? You were created with a passion and a purpose and he has laid out paths before you. Whichever one you choose, pursue it with all your heart!