Aspirations

1 Thessalonians 4 :11-12

"make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

What do I aspire to do?  How do I aspire to live?

I sat and thought through these questions and settled on one word- loudly.  I aspire to live loudly.  To make a statement with my life.  To do something different and something big.  To change things. To live wild and free.  But the verse I had read that morning said one thing very clearly:  Aspire to lead a quiet life.

Now I don't believe aspiring to change the world or do big things is wrong.  But what does it mean to aspire to lead a quiet life?  Or to actually lead a quiet life?  I don't really know.  But I do know one thing... when I focus on leading a quiet life my mental focus shifts toward being faithful with the work god has given me - namely training and loving my kids, serving my husband, loving God and people.  I become more focused on others- and less on "what I am doing", or my agenda.  I tend to be more peaceful in my spirit.

When I aspire to live loudly, no matter the goodness of my intentions, often I get wrapped in what I am doing, and forget why.  I forget about the people involved.  I forget about loving sacrificially and gently.  I want to make a statement with my words but the example of my life is less meaningful.

Not to say my life will never be loud.  I pray in the end it is!  But sometimes I think the road to a loud and clear message- is one of quiet persistence over time.