I am a “people pleaser.” I should say, my primary objective is to please people. The problem is, there are so many people to please that in the attempt to keep them all happy with me, I inevitably create situations that cause more of a problem and am a great failure in my people pleasing efforts. You know the scripture where Jesus says, “you can not serve God and man?” Well I looked at that one and said, yea, well, I think I can figure this out. I think God is finally getting through to me and saying, “No, you can’t.” So now it’s like re-learning how to walk – and to somehow replace my own voices that say “you should do that, that looks good” or “that sounds like a good answer”, with what is actually my favorite scripture: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21) It feels terrifying and unfamiliar. I was lamenting all this to someone yesterday when out of the corner of my eye I caught movement and turned to see a beautiful doe leap into some nearby brush and turn to look at me. It felt like a little nudge of encouragement – like Jesus saying, “I’m here and I am what it’s all about – this is the way.”
