I get excited for those that discover their purpose. They get a certain gleam in their eye. I once knew a man who was a retired cross country truck driver for much of his life. He would pick fruit and vegetables on the west coast and transport it to the east coast. When he talked about his working days , this normally stoic man began to smile. He shared seeing sunrises and sunsets. One day, he talked about the fact that he never worked though he was always employed. “Some people pay money to see portions of this country, and they were paying me to do it.” When he retired, he thought he would do some part-time work, but he hated every moment of his time on the clock. It did not surprise me that he came out of retirement for a couple of years before health issues sidelined him more long term.,
Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
My frame was not hidden from you
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Unfortunately, many lose sight of their purpose. Maybe they tried and failed. It may be that they have simply decided to compromise and settle for some lesser purpose. It is common that when one is going after their purpose, there will be obstacles. Too many see the obstacles and write off the dreams and settle for flipping burgers or collecting a disability check. There is nothing wrong with flipping burgers or collecting disability if you actually have a disability. You can flip burgers if that is your real purpose. But if your purpose is to cure cancer or lead the nation, and you are stuck behind a fryer with a spatula in your hand, the world is damaged by your choice to settle for mediocrity.
Past failure is not the script that you must live with. Take time to consider your hopes and passions and sit with the Lord on what you discover. Take time to read your Bible in light of how you are being led, talk to wise counsel and those that know us. Then develop a plan to begin forging a life that is more in line with who you are.
Also get this, you are more than your profession. When you are examining your life and forging a life, you must look at your whole self. Who are you physically? Are you healthy enough to do completely the profession that you have chosen, take care of your family, and avoid the nursing home? Who are you mentally? Do you know more than anyone else in your career field? Do you know how to care for your home or who to contact if you don’t? Do you read to learn more about other interesting topics? Who are you socially? Do you know your kids favorite activities and your wife’s deepest desires? Who are you Spiritually? Do you know Jesus? I mean KNOW Jesus, not just about Him.
Create a vision for you life before you go in to forge your new life or you may end up with a lopsided and unstable future.
