"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps&qu
What would make a human being come out with such a statement; an expression--not of autonomy, but of subordination, dependence and ignorance. It flies in the face of 21st century human consciousness. Are we not now--in addition to being merely self-conscious-- self-made, self-reliant, self-determining? The confession in today's text represents a radically alternative view of human life in our time; one which opens us up to huge personal resources with which to meet daunting challenges. We may be smart, but all by ourselves, not smart enough.