In Erin Morgenstern’s fantasy novel The Night Circus the illusionist Celia Bowen asks 15-year- old Bailey Clarke to take on the burden of the magical circus. “You’re not destined or chosen. I wish I could tell you that you were if that would make it easier, but it’s not true. You’re in the right place at the right time, and you care enough to do what needs to be done. Sometimes that’s enough.”

Is that ever right! Most of life I’ve thought of certain people as being destined for a special place in life. Partly I developed that outlook from what I learned in Sunday School. David was a shepherd boy chosen by God to be King of Israel. Jeremiah was destined before he was born to be a prophet. I have always wondered what would have happened if theses chosen, destined people had said, “no, thank you, I don’t want to do this.” In fact, I have wondered if there were people who said no, thank you, to God, but we just never hear about them. (Don’t ever ask your Sunday School teacher about that or you’ll be sorry.)

A lot of life is a matter of chance (you’re in the right place at the right time), ability (you have certain talents), but what makes a difference is caring enough to do what needs to be done. We don’t have to struggle to discover our God-given destiny. We just have to see what’s in front of us and care enough to do what has to be done.

Read James 1:27  and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne