Perhaps the choice of words should be passive verses involved.

Passive would be just waiting for God to do something for you, whether you are searching for it or not. Involved would be studying, doing, acting, helping, serving. In other words, the actions rather then just "being". I put being in quotes because I'm refering to the easy come easy go attitude where "if it happens, that's cool" attitude is present.

Jesus had instructed his disciples to go out and do as he had taught them to. The first reference that comes to mind is where they were sent out by pairs to heal and preach the good Word. Another is at His ascension where He again sent them out to continue His work. That is an ongoing command that includes us. That's where being involved comes in.

I think the best illustration is what is often called our purpose in life. Our purpose is the job that God has given us to during our lifetime. That purpose isn't told to us outright though. We have to search for it. It often blindsides us at the strangest of times, but usually it's a gradual dawning of what it is we are "meant" to do. To just "chill out" and go through life the easy way (which usually isn't all that easy, but perhaps you get the idea anyways!:D) is being passive. It's expecting our purpose in life to bonk us on the head, and be nearly done when it does so. On the other hand, working and searching out that purpose is the involved side. It's asking for God's guidence and following where directed. Guess I finally found the word to say where the "just let it happen" theory bothers me.

The connection between God and each person is a relationship. Like any relationship it takes equal involvement. A marriage where one does nothing to reach out to the other is destined for divorce court. The perfect marriage is where each person strives to learn more about the other, help the other, understand the other one, and find ways of showing love to the other one. Same thing applies to the relationship between God and us. The relationship where the person does nothing to reach out to God always ends in that person falling away from God. But the person who studies, works and does what he'she can to show God his'her love for Him flurishes and grows without limits. The more the person does to bring God closer the more God does to draw that person closer. So close that He even speaks to that person as if they were sitting in the living room having a common conversation. Just try to imagine the relationship between Moses and God. Moses could go to God as if he were meerly walking inot the living room to ask a question. ALL of us can have that if we are willing to do our part!!

Sorry, I tend to get carried away on that. Anyways!! :) On thing I can say I agree on is the fact that all things in life need to be taken in and appreciated, even if they are painful. The painful things are those experiences that we learn from and therefore further our side of the God-us relationship. That's not easy to do, but I have learned that it really is necessary. It's like an analogy the pastor of our church gave for emotional injuries. Forgiveness starts the healing of the wound, and the pain is no longer there. But the scars will remain as a testimony of the lessons you've learned that the spiritual ground you've covered. They aren't ugly, horrid things, but rather beautiful testimonies to the Love of the Father for us mere humans.

I guess I can now explain my confusion in a question. Are you saying that all things/experiences in life are to be noticed and appriciated? Or are you saying that the best path is the one where you are passive and say "if it happens, cool. if not, that's cool too."?

God bless! And great to hear from you again!!