Toss the Trace Paper

There are many good people out there who have made good decisions with their lives who serve as role models. Sometimes these people are your parents, relatives, pastors, friends, managers or co-workers.  It is wonderful to look at someone's life and see good fruit, and allow that to lead you into a greater vision for your own life.  It is equally wonderful to create your own original life.  I don't think we were intended to trace our lives over someone else's sketch.  

Monet and Picasso were legendary painters yet they had completely different styles, techniques and color choices.  Both made very different decisions, yet both created masterpieces.  Had Picasso tried to be Monet, it would have lacked authenticity and we wouldn't have radiant Picasso's hanging on our museum walls.  

Lately, I have been reminding myself to ask a person permission before giving advice or speaking into someone's life.  I am trying to be careful to not presume someone would like or need my advice.  Maybe they would be better off without out it as they attempt to sketch their own original life.