Gilbert Meilaender’s son had just gone away to college. Meilaender wrote him three “open” letters, the first having to do with keeping one’s commitments. The dad wrote, “Much too often we suppose that the way to live is to think through what we want to do and then figure out how to do it,” i.e. set goals. All of us do this to some degree. Goals are helpful, but only to a point, says Meilaender.
“Thinking this way does not really prepare us well for living as responsible people… Much of the time we’re already committed in important ways before we really decide what our goals should be. And because we’re already committed, other people have expectations based on those commitments.” They will be devastated if we change directions. God, who keeps his commitments, is not honored when we scrap ours.
“The trick of life is not to figure out who I am and then decide what sorts of commitments such a person should make. The trick is to become the person who can carry out the commitments I’ve already made. Don’t imagine that the point of life is to set goals. Think, instead, that its point is to be faithful to the commitments already built into your life.”
Commitments like what? One is stewardship. We are to be faithful stewards or managers of all that God has given us, including our life in Grace Presbyterian Church.
“Intent to Give” Cards will be distributed soon. Stewardship Commitment Sunday is Nov. 7
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