“Rather than a life plan, a clear vision, or a five-year list of goals, the leper, the paralytic, and Jairus and his wife were given clear instructions about what to do next – and only next. Perhaps he knew something about our addiction to clarity. He knew if we could somehow wrangle a five-year plan out of him, we would take it and be on our merry way.”- Emily P. Freeman
“They laughed at [Jesus], knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up.’ Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.”- Luke 8:53-55
As Emily P. Freeman continues Chapter 1 of The Next Right Thing, she states that doing the next right thing really started to sink in for her when she noticed it in the Gospels. Quite often, after performing a miracle, Jesus gave a simple next right thing to do. For example:
- Jesus told the leper to show himself to the priest (Luke 5:14)
- Jesus instructed the paralytic to get up, pick up his stretcher, then go home (Luke 5:24)
Therefore, Mrs. Freeman asserts, we need to take our cue from Jesus. We must consider what it means for us to do the next right thing now. Not the next big or impressive thing. Simply the next right thing directly in front of us. The author exhorts:
“Regardless of your own degree of personal choice, you have a God who walks and talks with you, who moves in and through you, who sings over you. How he moves in you may be different from how he moves in me, but one thing is certain. He remains unchanged.”
Today’s question: Have you looked beyond the next right thing to focus on a life plan or clear vision? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: Unmade decisions – a burden and a gift”