For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:10
An interesting storyline is currently playing out in Season 5 of Law & Order: Organized Crime involving its lead character, Elliott Stabler. It unfolds amid Stabler’s son, Eli, who’s under investigation by internal affairs after his first police shooting. While concerned about Eli’s career, Stabler is also forced to deal with the revelation that his son only became a police officer to please him.
This family dynamic is quite common, especially when a particular trade or profession has been pursued from one generation to the next. While pressure often comes from verbal expectations, it can also arise from insecurities. Consequently, the individual believes that to be accepted and approved of, he or she must continue the family legacy. However, there’s a difference between assuming duties for a season as a form of support and choosing to design one’s life to appease others.
God has a calling for each one of us, and I believe it’s not conditioned on maintaining a legacy or making others happy. Finding it will require seeking His guidance. Oftentimes, it will be entirely different than what’s expected, but well worth the stretch.