Waiting for brick walls, slamming doors, and big flashing signs...

Over the past few years I have eagerly anticipated the day I would walk across the Benson Stage and receive my college diploma (which they probably really mail or something, but anyway...). Like I said I have anticipated graduation for a long time. It's not graduation itself that I was excited about, but the exciting life that was sure to come after it. Going into college I think I expected God to lay a yellow brick road for me to follow to the rest of my life. I thought I would have clear signs that would tell me which way I was supposed to go. But no yellow brick road has materialized. Don't worry I am not doubting God, I'm just learning some things about him. I wish more than anything that he would slam the wrong doors shut and put up a big flashing neon sign pointing me in the direction he wants me to go. Sadly this hasn't happened yet.
The other day I was talking with Matt Miller, a missionary to Togo who is working here at Harding this year. He asked me about my future plans and I told him I had a few ideas, but was just waiting for God to show me where he wants me to be. Matt just smiled and said something like this, "You know that won't always happen. On a few occasions God may show you exactly where you are supposed to go, but most of the time he leaves that decision to you. Sometimes he just sits back and watches to see what you will choose. God, like a parent, loves it when you take the initiative to do the right thing. A parent is more proud of a child who cleans their room on their own than a child who only cleans it because they were told to. God likes for us to make the right decisions on our own. If you make the wrong choice, then he will let you know."
I had never thought of it that way. I would still like for God to give me specifics, but I won't waste away waiting for "the call." He can call me from anywhere. So I'm going to keep on praying and listening. But in the mean time I'm gonna keep on scratching out those plans on paper napkins and try to figure out what the best decision is whether I get a specific call of not.