Last year I turned 40, and with that came the inevitable ponderings of the track of life and taking stock of things. That became a real desire to sort through life's priorities. Doing so has led to real changes for the better, little by little. My motto last year I stole from St. Francis de Sales about being gentle with oneself, and I think I'm going to work on that even more in 2020!

We all have these threshold moments in our lives that trigger some introspection and asking the question, "Now what?" Like graduating high school or college, getting laid off from a job, having your first child, children going off to school, retirement. Where do we look for answers for taking that next step? Trusted mentors, elders, pastors, coaches, teachers, best friends, siblings, prayer, scripture and maybe that voice within as well.

Before Christians were called Christians, they were called simply "The Way". This was because they lived their lives differently and it was obvious to those who encountered them. Their following of Christ was evident in all aspects of their lives. This might lead us to believe that all Christians think, look and act the same, however, we are all created uniquely, not one of us is exactly alike even at our birth, let alone after our life experiences. Yet God knows each of us down to the very smallest details. Psalm 139 says, "You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb... My very self you know." So, though each of us is called to be a follower of Christ, "The Way" for each of us is going to be different. We all may be seeking the same thing, but how we get there is our own unique journey.

Sometimes I think we settle to conform to what we see around us. We learn by imitating, which is fine, but imitation without some reflection is limiting. Worse, we often compare our spiritual lives to others and wish we seemed more holy like Sally or had deeper spiritual experiences like Bob. But, the reality is, we are called to much, much more. The God of the entire universe is also the Jesus of the interior of our hearts. Your life journey is both "The Way" but also "Your Way" and it is not going to look like someone else's way, and should definitely not be compared. This is one thing in life that is definitely not a competition!

So as we continue to journey into 2020, especially when these "Now what?" moments come up, let's remember that our journey is our own, that God knows and speaks to us personally in many different ways, and it's our job to try to discern where and how we are being led. Let's try not to be too anxious about what that might look like, in comparison with others. And, for one another, let's be respectful rather than judgemental of "Their Way", that their path and timing are their own.

Imagine what the world would be like if every person were supported and encouraged to live their life as God truly made and called them. In our own small circles of influence, starting with ourselves, let's commit to doing the best we can.