What God Wants

"Believe me, the safest thing is to want only what God wants. He knows us better than we know ourselves and he loves us. Let's place ourselves in his hands so that his will might be done in us. If we consciously maintain this intention, we cannot go wrong." Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle (1577)

My daughter Emily Rose is a senior at the University of Minnesota this year, and because of her I have a large number of people I care about who soon will be transitioning into life after college. Lately I've had it in my mind to talk to one of these students about whether or not he has ever felt called to the ministry. This young man will be graduating with a biology degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and I believe he would be a very fine teacher and coach; however, I also believe he would be a very fine Lutheran minister. At Christmastime, I hope to have a conversation with him about the ministry and whether he has considered it for his profession.

What would this conversation sound like? I certainly won't be telling a young college graduate how to live his life, but I will be praying for what God wants. In The Interior Castle, Teresa reminds us that God "knows us better than we know ourselves and he loves us." There are many ways to serve--God needs each of us and our special gifts--and what to do becomes clear as we move along the path. "Let's place ourselves in his hands," Teresa writes, "so that his will can be done in us. If we consciously maintain this intention, we cannot go wrong."

I am looking forward to Christmas when I will spend time with the young people who are home from college, and I'm especially looking forward to seeing one young man who will soon be holding a diploma in biology. Until then, I will be praying for God's continued blessings on all of these dear students and each of us as we seek to recognize what God wants, today and every day of our lives.