In today’s hectic world, we often feel pressure to accomplish our many tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible. But it’s good to remember that the direction we are headed is often more important than how soon we get there. If an airline pilot makes an error of only one or two degrees in a long flight path, the plane could miss its target by many miles—even if it’s making good time. If a family sets out on a trip without a map or a destination, they’re likely to wander around or get lost. If we focus on our speed at the expense of our direction, we’re in danger of getting “nowhere fast.”
As a wise observer noted: “[We] need to be very careful about the paths we choose and the directions in which we set our lives. What seem to be only small deviations in direction or small detours . . . can result in huge differences in position down the road of life.”1
When you have a decision to make—anything from which career to pursue to which relationship to nurture—take some time to ask yourself, where will it lead? Will your actions lead to happiness and contentment for you and your loved ones, or will they lead somewhere else?
One young woman made the difficult decision to expand her circle of friends. Some of her old friends objected and proved to be less than loyal, but some of the new friends became dear and trusted companions. Because she stopped to intentionally choose her path, she has enriched her life and influenced its direction for years to come.
Most of us know where we want our lives to lead us. If we keep this end in mind and regularly evaluate our course, we can arrive at the destination we most desire.
1. Dallin H. Oaks, “Where Will It Lead?” New Era, Aug. 2007, 2.
Program #4265
Musical Selections:
1. How Firm a Foundation
Attr. J. Ellis; arr. Mack Wilberg; Oxford Univeristy Press
2. Pilgrim Song
American folk hymn; arr. Ryan Murphy; Arrangement Unpublished
3. The King of Love My Shepherd Is (Organ solo)
Ancient Irish melody; arr. Robert Cundick; Sonos
4. Nunc Dimittis
Alexander Gretchaninoff; Public Domain
5. Spoken Word
6. There But for You Go I, from Brigadoon
Frederick Loewe; arr. Arthur Harris; Arrangement Unpublished
7. Glory
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff; M. Witmark & Sons
Music & the Spoken Word
A program of inspirational music and spoken word.