Upper Falls in Letchworth Gorge, New York
Eric Liddell, the British sprinter who broke world records at the 1924 Olympics, once said, “I believe God made me for a purpose… and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
Showy Fleabane near Cracker Lake, Montana
Liddell recognized that God had created him with the ability to run fast. He also recognized the pleasure of God when he did what God had created him to do.
Rock formations in Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, New Mexico
It’s easy for me to say that God created me to be in His creation; that I feel His pleasure when I am enjoying the things He made. I can feel His joy that I love what He created. I sense that He knew from the beginning of time that I would love it and He is delighted that I am walking out what He planned before I was even born.
Views from the Dragontail, Montana
But I was created to do more than just enjoy God’s creation. That was part of the plan; but like most people, God had more than a one-dimensional plan for my life. So He created me with the ability to write, among other abilities. And I feel His pleasure when I write about the places I’ve hiked and other topics (which sometimes range from emails to relatives to how-to guides on online college).
Swan building its nest at Turning Point Park, New York
When we are walking in the plan and purpose God created us to walk in, we can feel His pleasure. Sometimes I think it’s like a proud father who loves what his child is accomplishing in the maturity they have. I have a photo of my (then) three-year-old brother washing the dishes. He is so serious about the business. Did he get every plate clean? Not quite. But at that level of maturity, we were so proud of his accomplishment.
Letchworth Gorge from the Rim Trail, Letchworth State Park, New York
Eric Liddell felt God’s pleasure when he ran, but he knew that God, Himself, was more important than the purpose for which God made him. And so he lived his life for God and not for running. If you’ve seen the movie “Chariots of Fire”, you know that he refused to run on Sunday because he felt that day was God’s Sabbath Day. Later, he gave up running to become a missionary to spread God’s love and the message of Salvation to the Chinese.
Little arches above the Main Loop in Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
God created us for a purpose, but no matter how good or Godly that purpose, the purpose is not our god. Only God can be that for us. When the purpose becomes more important than God, we lose that sense of God’s pleasure because we lose sight of God in the process of doing.
Views from Goat Peak in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Montana
My goal in life is to bring God pleasure. And so I walk out the purposes He created me for – without losing sight of God as the ultimate purpose of life.
