Getting Started....

What does it mean to begin? Depending on what we're beginning it can be relieving, frightening, exciting, nerve-wracking, uncertain or all of these at the same time, especially when beginning something new means exiting familiar territory and venturing into the unknown. Some meet this with anticipation and confidence knowing that the experiences that lie ahead will be worth any of the little bumps in the road. Others, who prefer the well beaten path, look at unknown territory as an unavoidable and unwelcome burden that must be borne.
The ages of 18-25 is, I think, a time of high uncertainty and volatility in our lives. It is full of beginnings. If you think about it, it really is a small window of time in which most of our decisions will be made that act as catalysts for the next 50 or so years of our life. There's got to be a word for it - I just don't know what it is... but think about it, for 18 years we live in an incubator (so to speak). If not our parents, there are societal regulations that basically tell us exactly how to live our lives. We know what time to wake each morning, how to dress, where to attend class - in school we're moved from room to room (like cattle, more or less) and the pattern repeats itself, from about 5 years of age to 18. Sure, there are a few high points; braces, special achievements, romance, driver's license, first job, bank account, etc. And we may deal with some low points; family strife, abuse, unexpected illness, disappointments in relationships - romantic and non-romantic, etc. But on the whole, the life we live for 13 years is extremely predictable. We have to apply ourselves to excel but we don't usually have to think further than 2 weeks ahead.
The last 55 or so years fall into a similar pattern, just flip-flopped. Now we are the responsible adult. It's our children that we herd through life. Adult life may be less predictable than adolesence, but not by a huge percentage. (Maybe it should be.)
Then, sandwiched in between our first 18 years and our last 55+ is this 7 year (give or take a few) time span that's like a concentrated stick of dynamite wherein lies at the hands of the most inexperienced adults, some of the most important decisions that we will ever make. It's really mind boggling. By 19 or 20 we must know what occupation we want to be doing for the next 55 years and we complete our training for the rest of our life in the next two or less depending on our vocational choice. By about 25 (approximately) we are to have chosen our life partner (i.e. spouse). In this process we have to excercise incredible patience, wisdom and foresight or just really hope to get lucky because in our society it's everyone picks his own the best she knows how.
Many have already begun families by the end of the 25th year and so the journey has begun full force.
Now, of course, this is not the way it MUST be done. It's just the way it so often is. And all I'm saying is, Man! That's a lot of decision making for someone who has been hand-led for 18 years up to this point.
Whether or not these decisions are made during this time span, I think that they still rest on the minds of those who are at this life point. These can be heavy thoughts, coupled with the burden of feeling like life is starting all over again; a new routine, independence, personal decision making, personal responsibility, realizing that the buck now stops with me, the task of recreating my social circle (my friends that had been there since kindergarten are gone), new faces, new places. It can be daunting.
But if we can look at the glass half-full, it is definately also a time to let our roots grow very deep, to establish who we are in this world and the person we hope to become. Instead of coming off the block like it's a 100-meter dash, I say lets start slow, like it's a 26-mile marathon. I'm not saying we should not enjoy ourselves - actually, I think we get more enjoyment when we pace ourselves anyway. I'm saying, know that the journey is a long distance race not a sprint and we need to make wise choices in the beginning so we don't have to pull out of the race early. Let's look at it like this, the decisions that we make today will either be wise investments that will give us a return in the future or debt that can take decades to pay off.
For many, this is the first taste of personal freedom and so the motto is "drink deeply". We forget what Paul said, "While all things are allowable, not all things are beneficial (good for me)."
Life is an incredible teacher; listen and learn. Learn things the first time - we shouldn't be like a headstrong child who tries again and again to get away with what he knows is wrong. Learn vicariously - that means learn from other people's mistakes. And above all, trust the Lord. Learn from experience that God's way just is the BEST WAY. Psalm 1 tells us, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly or stands in the way of sinners or sits in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by water which yeilds it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers...." If you feel uncertain, if you feel restless, if you want a challenge, plant yourself in the middle of God's word and presence. Let it be your comfort and your confidence. Let it be your compass, your answer in this time of decision-making. And one of the greatest assets of living our life in Him, is that regardless of today - tomorrow is a new beginning!