What, No Blueprint?

I’m currently reading a book about spiritual practice among Friends and I came across this passage that has been really bothering me for several months now. The passage in question appears in a section that discusses focusing on a particular dynamic in ones relationship with God as a co-creator of ones future, as opposed to attempting to discern Gods will for ones life. Thomas Merton states that basically people act like God has plan or map for their life in a drawer somewhere and that we think all we have to do is find the right drawer containing the right map and we’ll be all set and on our way. He says it’s not like that. There is no predestined plan for us because we are co-creating the plan with God. He says it is more like a great improvisation that is constantly unfolding.

What? You mean there is no blueprint for Juliet’s life?  Really? I don’t want to think that is true. What if it was? What if I’m really entirely responsible for all my choices and unlike Robert Frost, who chose the right road not taken, I chose the wrong one and end up in a mess? I mean I’m human. I’m human, self-centered, selfish, can’t get out my own way. Man, don’t put me in charge! Yikes! And besides, I was never that great at improvisation. The improv classes I took at the University of Miami were really gnarly and made me sweat buckets, even in rooms that were cold enough to hang meat.

Besides, Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before you were formed in the womb I knew you. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord Almighty.” So was Merton denying all of that? He was a monk; he can’t just say it’s not scripture, can he? Maybe he means that since there is that of God in me that it is like I am co-creating my plan but it freaks me out because what if I make the wrong choices create the wrong thing? That bothers me.

Psalm 139 says, “When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16).”

I can see how we are co-creators in the sense that we have been given free will and can choose to follow God or not. We can choose to get to know, love and make God first in our life or not. So in that sense, I suppose we could be creating the blueprint of our lives.

I choose to believe that God does have a plan for my life.  If I remain in a constant state of prayer, listen for His guidance, and practice unreserved obedience to Him, I think I will be able to follow His blueprint for my life.

Okay, so maybe I won’t find a drawer with a map in it. But I’ve never been good at reading maps anyway, and even with my new GPS that my sister and brother-in-law so lovingly gave to me for Christmas one year, I am an expert in getting lost. So hopefully the map is really a spiritual blueprint than can be discerned through prayer, meditation and the study of Scripture.

I find great comfort, promise, faith and hope in the Scriptures. They have gotten me through many tough times. I believe they are the inspired word of God. I do believe God has a plan for me that was created before I even came down to this planet. That is what works for Juliet. So whether it is a blue print, a map, diagram or drawing, I will use the tools I have to seek it and follow God’s path. Nothing I ever do in this life could be more important.