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To the disbelief of my children and grandchildren, I was not born into this world old, grumpy, and cantankerous, harboring the notion that I knew everything. To their surprise, I was actually young at one point in my life. However, I do admit that there was a time during my adolescence when I had a similar mindset that many of our young people have today.  I thought I was privileged. I was certain that the world owed me something. I had huge ideas and great expectations of everyone but myself. I failed to listen to my parents, my teachers, my pastor and anyone else who tried to offer me any advice. I had an answer for everything. I dismissed anyone who did not think the way I thought or agree with what I had to say. I had a plan for my life, but my plan had no concrete substance. Absent from my plan was a strategy for a sound work ethic and a lack of basic respect for others. The core of my plan was woven totally around me. There was nothing that addressed the issue of how to make good choices and decisions. There was no thought given as to how I would address the negative consequences, choices, and decisions that I would surely make. I was different, you see, and where others had failed I would surely succeed, because I thought I had all the answers. I did not need advice from anyone about how to live my life. I refused to listen because in my young mind I knew a little about everything, but in reality I knew a whole lot about nothing. I am sure that there are many young people today who are not like me at all. I know from working with children in the church, my community, and my hometown that some are bright, intelligent, and have set high expectations for themselves. I am sure that there are young people in our communities who would welcome good sound advice and directions for how to make better choices and decisions in their lives. Therefore, I would like to share with you four basic ideas that might help you make better decisions and choices as you begin your journey on the road to success. First: You must know who you are and whose you are. Who you are may be defined perhaps by your ethnicity or your race. To know whose you are is to simply understand that you are a child of God. You come from good stock, from royal blood. You come from the lineage of a royal kingship. You must never forget that God loves you just as you are and you must always try to love yourself and others as much as God loves all of us. Simply because of who you are, a child of God, He will always be by your side as you continue on your journey to success. All you have to do is ask, trust, and believe. Second: Before you start out on your journey, you must map out a plan with some idea of where you want to go so that you will know where you need to start and how long it will take you to get there. In addition, and most importantly, God must be a part of your plan. No smart traveler would ever start out on a journey without a map, without knowing where he or she wanted to go, or without having some idea of how to get there. With a map, you lower the possibility of getting lost or possibly reaching the wrong destination. Without a map on your trip, you will find yourself having to constantly stop and ask for directions-sometimes from strangers. You will find on your journey to success that the folks who are already lost will take comfort in your getting lost as well. Let God be your guide and the foundation of your plan. Do not be afraid to call on God through prayer and be patient; God works on His time-not ours. Through prayer, patience, and prudence, and with God by your side, you will reach your destination. Third: Pay attention to the signs that are posted on your road to success. Choose your route carefully; some roads will lead you to a sense of false happiness; some will lead you to a life of failure, unhappiness, and resentment. Some signs will say stop, proceed with caution; others will say detour, bridge out, wrong way, or do not enter. Many people who have traveled and tested the roads that lead to success believe that these signs are sent by God Himself to make them visible to us-people like our parents, teachers, pastors, wise members of our church community, loved ones, and friends. If you look for those signs and pay attention to them when you see them, you will be able to make better choices and decisions as you travel the road to success. Fourth and most importantly, you must be careful in choosing the road you take on your journey to success. Always remember to ask God to be your companion. He will lead you, guide you, and show you the way. When you are tired, God will provide you strength and when you are lost, He will help you find your way. Finally, always remember these words of wisdom from someone much wiser than me: "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." Deacon Shelby Friend is married to Maxine G. Friend and is the father of three and the grandfather of six. Deacon Friend was ordained in the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, in May 1994. He received an Associate's Degree from Cuyahoga Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Studies from Ursuline College, where he is currently a graduate student. |
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If you are a young person who believes that you know
everything about life; if you believe you have all the answers for how to be
successful; if you refuse to listen to or be told anything by anyone about the
choices and decisions you are making in your life; if you know where you are
going in life and which road will get you there; I suggest that you stop reading
this article right now because this article is not for you. |
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