I was reminded of a verse out of James yesterday that one of my Mercer friends brought to us at BCM during my senior year. In context it reads:

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

As a recent graduate I face a myriad of questions internally, as well as from "everyone else and their brother"(as do most other graduates). The person who shared this insight with us was facing his parents who were wondering what fruit they might see after helping to fund a costly college education. His response was based on this scripture, "this or that". Though at first it might come across as a clever response, it is a wise perspective on what our life is and what it consists of.

I was taught from this passage yesterday, which is what reminded me of what my friend shared, with the emphasis put on the question "what is your life". I've heard that my life is nothing but a mist, but it's hard to keep that in mind. To keep the mind set that what I am doing is merely "this or that", remaining humble, taking no pride in where God has me and may be leading me, and doing good where it ought to be done is something that I need to put into practice and strive for.

What is my life? A combination of this and that... that's OK by me.

1 Peter 5:7 says:
"So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you." (Message paraphrase)