Crystal Ball

Tell me, tell me where I'm going
I don't know where I've been
Tell me, tell me, won't you tell me
And then tell me again
My heart is breaking, body's aching
And I don't know where to go
Tell me, tell me, won't you tell me
I've just got to know

Crystal ball
There's so many things I've got to know
Crystal ball
There's so many things I need to know
Crystal ball

Does the above sound familiar? I for one would love to have a crystal ball to show me where I'm going, and what's going to happen both when I get there, and on the journey. There are so many things that I think that I need to know, both about future events, and things that have happened in my life and in the lives of those I know.

Would knowing my future calling stop me making mistakes on the way? I very much doubt it. I may know the way from Cheltenham to Slough, but if there is a hold up on the way, I may still make an error in my diversion route. In the same way I could easily make a mistake, if a problem arises, on the journey to the place shown to me in the crystal ball.

Would knowing what was actually said in a conversation between people, not involving me, actually stop me worrying about it? Probably not as well.

As a Christian I believe that God has an ultimate plan for my life, but in His goodness it is not gift wrapped and handed to me on a silver platter. I have to journey to get there, maybe making mistakes along the way. If life was simple and straightforward, I would not learn valuable life lessons along the way. I believe that we were given freewill as a learning tool, which can strengthen us on our journeys, if we are prepared to learn from our mistakes.

God has given me glimpses of what I think is His plan for this part of my life. This has been through various outlets, such as particular passages from the bible coming into my mind, words and pictures being given to me by people praying for me who do not know my circumstances, and by a feeling of peace when praying about certain things. Despite these affirming actions, it is still hard for me to trust God with my future. I find it easier to try to find the way myself, which is why it has taken so long to get anywhere near where I think God wants me to be!

I do not think it is too out of line to say that God should be my crystal ball. He does show me the way, I just have to learn to read the map better for His journey in my life.

The opening lyrics were taken form the Styx song Crystal Ball. The version which follows is another clip from the 1996 Return to Paradise tour.