Have you ever had a coincidence that was so amazing that you were sure God must have had something to do with it? Some people refer to such a “coincidence” as a divine appointment. How did the thought of doing something or going somewhere enter your mind? What nudge did you receive to act? What happened with others that made it all come together at just the right time? Was it really all a coincidence or was it bigger than that? Often, success comes simply from following an internal nudge to take action on a thought.

In the process of completing a book, I am looking for some assistance. If you have a story of something that you believe is more than a coincidence, would you please share it in the comments section. Please share only comments you freely give me your permission to potentially reprint. Thanks!

 

Memorial Day Weekend is a special time recognizing those who gave their all defending the freedoms of others. Their sacrifice is the ultimate service one can give--their very own life. The price of freedom is expensive and I humbly and gratefully thank these heroes as well as everyone associated with them--their fellow soldiers, their friends, and their family. 

Today's post is specifically dedicated to my father's Uncle--my Great Uncle George.

He was a part of the Normandy D-Day invasion of WWII.  In fact, he was in one of the early waves landing on the beachfront via a Higgins boat. He knew his odds of survival were slim. A good friend of his, also in an early wave, wrote his parents a letter just before the invasion expressing his love to them and his gratitude for their love.  He requested that they honor him with a sense of pride, as he most likely would not be returning from this engagement. As a parent myself, I could only imagine the emotions I would feel reading such a letter from my son. 

The morning came and my Great Uncle George found himself amongst a number of other brave soldiers packed in a Higgins boat. The boat landed and everyone attempted to get out without being shot. He made it. As he left the boat and fell into the water, he and everyone else attempted to get out without being shot or drowning from the weight of their gear. He made it out and onto the beach. Amidst the raining down of bullets, exploding mines and mortars, he ran up the beach. Amazingly, he made it across the beach to the hillside. However, it was here where he was hit by a mortar ripping off part of his leg and sending shrapnel throughout his body.  He spun around and fell on his back. With continuing bullets flying everyplace, explosions and general chaos in all directions, my Great Uncle George lay on the upper beach with blood pouring from his body. 

At that moment, he pulled out a picture of his family and held it on his chest with his bloody hands. He held it tightly till he passed out. We know this because when the medics came and got him the following morning, he still had it clutched to his chest. After all, wasn't it for his family that he was laying on that beach giving his life so others could freely live theirs?  

Well, when the medics did pick him up, it is recorded that they yelled, "This one's not cold! He's still alive!" Somehow, through it all, he had not bled to death. And, long story short, operation after operation, he lived!  He lived to the point that when I was a small boy he told me this story himself. He showed me his reconstructed leg that was now several inches shorter than the other. He showed me the remaining shrapnel that could still be seen just under his skin. He told me about lying on his back holding the picture of his family he was certain he'd never see again. He told me all about it. Then, he looked at me and told me how his good friend and many others never did make it off that beach. He told me how the only way to give their deaths significance is not to take our freedom for granted. "Do something great with your life!"  He told me.      

I am grateful to everyone (approximately 400 people at this point) who took the time to answer this survey.  Life is a series of decisions.  Throughout every day we encounter forks in the road.  Should I do this or that?  Some decisions are small and some are significant.  However, one of the biggest decisions we make is our choice of occupation.  The idea of this survey was to see how we ended up doing that one thing that captures the majority of our time each day. 

Time is our greatest asset.  We can always make more money but we have a fixed 168 hours each week.  Once we use it, it’s gone forever.  Most people spend anywhere from 40 - 100 of those hours working.  Further, many of the non-working hours are often spent thinking about work!  So, if you were to add the total time that work captures the mind of an individual, it would be significant.  Of course, there are some that spend the majority of their work time thinking about anything but what they are doing there...so you may need to do the math personally.  Regardless, generally our occupation captures more of our time than any other activity in life with sleeping coming in second.

Since our occupation generally consumes most of our time, doesn’t it make sense that we would choose to invest our time (our greatest asset) into an occupation that will yield the best results? Of course.  Then, what results are the best?  Is it the most money?  Is it the most flexible time schedule?  Is it what seems to be the most secure?  I would submit to you that the very best results we could aim for is to fulfill God’s specific will for our life? 

Everyone ever born was born for a reason.  There were no accidents.  Your parents may not have planned you but God did.  He specifically designed you with certain gifts and a will for your life.  The question is, are you specifically searching to discover your gifts and your passion in order to pursue that which God has designed you to do?  When you discover your gifts you are on top of your purpose.  That is, those things that you are gifted to do, you are gifted for a reason.  Many people discount the very things they love and are good at because they do come so naturally.  Yet, your purpose in life is specifically connected to your gifts.  In addition, when you apply your purpose to that which you are most passionate about, you have discovered your calling or assignment in life.

What if what you did for an occupation could be in alignment with your purpose and assignment in life?  How fulfilling would that be?  Then, … why not do it?  If you believe finances are stopping you, I’d encourage you to think that through.  Are you trying to live a lifestyle that is stretching your dollar to achieve a feeling of comfort?  Is that really more comfortable than the feeling that comes when you are living on-purpose; that is, doing what you love, what you are designed to do, and what you are passionate about?  Who’s to say that if you made a decision to do what you are passionate about that you wouldn’t find a way to make it profitable?  Imagine if you did that!  Then, the more you did what you were passionate about, the more income you’d make.  Perhaps, by pursuing what you are passionate about you may profit through some other means that allows you to do it.  Regardless, I believe if you start the process of focusing on doing what you are passionate about, doors will open and the details will be covered. 

I want to encourage you to make a decision to revolve your life around your purpose and the one who gave it to you.  Make that commitment and let the details fall into place.  Let go of centering your life around things and doing what you think you ‘have to do.’ 

Out of the 400 people who have currently taken this survey, there is a tie for first.  The number one way people ended up in the occupation they are in is a tie between, “Most lucrative option available,” and “Only available option at the time.”  It shows that most people are either taking work as it is available or, if they do have a choice, are deciding based upon the best return financially.  This is life.  This is what is normal.  Unfortunately, time passes and as we come closer to the end of our life we ask, “Is this really what it is all about?”  Only 15% of the poll responded, “Knew it was what I am designed to do.”

I hope you will take a deep look at what it is that you are designed to do and then I hope you will pursue it with everything that you have.  Let no excuse, doubt, or fear stop you from fulfilling your purpose and assignment in life.     

Have you ever asked the question, "How did I get here?"  I know I've had those moments.  What about your occupation--how did you get there?  Most people trade the majority of their day at work.  Do you love it?  If you were financially independent, would you still work where you do?  Would you work for free? 

Below is a poll asking you to remember how you ended up doing what it is that you do for a living.  Please take a moment to click on the box that tells your story:

 

I want to thank everyone (approximately 400 people so far) who took the "30 Days to Live" survey.  The idea of the survey was to get you (myself included) to take a deep look at life.  Most of us are running a gazillion miles an hour in multiple different directions simultaneously.  No wonder we feel strrrreeeetched!  Painful just to picture, isn’t it?  However, when we take a moment to stop and consider having only 30 days to live, an undeniable clarity of personal priorities quickly comes to focus.

By far the number one response (over 50% of the votes and 5 times more than anything else) was, “Spend time with family.”  In solid second was, “Get spiritual life in order.”  Third was an interesting tie between, “Witness to others” and, “Be adventurous.”   Surprisingly, “Read Chuck Goetschel’s blog” wasn’t in the top 10!  It did get at least one vote…so, thanks Mom.  J  

The big question at hand is, “What now?”  You probably have more than 30 days to live (although nobody knows) but that’s not the point.  The point is now that you have clarified what you value most in life, why wouldn’t you focus on it whether you have 30 days or 30+ years to live? 

If your answer was, “Spend time with family,” can you redesign your life to put family time as a higher priority?  Perhaps, it’s time to cut out the, ‘flop-in-front-of-the-tv-cause-I-deserve-it’ habit and go make a special memory with your spouse or kids.  Perhaps, there is a family member that needs a call, a note, some encouragement, or simply an acknowledgement from you.  What if you listened to your family as if you really only had 30 days to live?  What if you went after creating memories with them as if you only had 30 days to do it?  What would happen to your family if you put that kind of focus and intensity into them?  Would it be worth it?  For more than half of you, this was your first choice.  Let your life reflect it.  Let your family and the world know it.

If getting your spiritual life in order was your top choice, what can you do right now for that?  If you have any question whatsoever as to the journey you will make after you die, I hope you will make getting that in order a priority.  Eternity is a long time.  Why will everyone invest time to plan a vacation but only some people invest time to plan their trip after life on earth?  Being this was the second highest answer in the survey, it is obviously important to many people.  Here are three questions to get clear answers to: 

1. Is there life after death? 
2. If so, what will it be like for me?  (Heaven/Hell/other?) 
3. On what authority do I base my thinking? 

My objective in this posting is simply to encourage you to live your life like you were dying.  Steven Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, says, “Begin with the end in mind.”  That is, make decisions today based on leading your life to a fulfilling conclusion rather than to make decisions today based on short-term pleasures.  Ironically, by living with the end in mind, you will find far more immediate pleasure than ever before.  Being focused on that which you really value will yield a deep contentment.  True joy comes from living ‘on-purpose’ rather than ‘by accident.’ 

Take a look at the photo...check out the poor kid in the middle?  Have you ever felt like you were being squeezed by the less desirable aspects of life?  The pressure is significant, you may not be sure how long you will feel this way, and all the while you are cruising down the road of life. 

 

First, let’s establish the fact that, although at the moment it may be hard to believe, your life has purpose and meaning.  In fact, you were specifically and uniquely designed to fulfill an assignment on earth and you have gifts intended to be used for your purpose. 

 

Unfortunately, however, some people have a hard time believing that their life could have any particular purpose.  "I was just an accident" I have heard many times.  "How do you know?" I always ask.  "My parents told me..." is typically the response. 

 

Friends, nobody is an accident.  Your life is not an accident.  As Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, has said, "There are accidental parents. There are no accidental children. There are illegitimate parents. There are no illegitimate children. Your parents may not have planned you but God planned you. Really it doesn't matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. They may have even abandoned you. But they were the parents God chose for you. Why? Because they had just the right DNA to create you. And God was more interested in making you than He was in their parenting skills."  Interestingly, Pope Clement VII, Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Hamilton and even Josephine de Beauharnais (Napoleon's wife) have something in common...they were all born of illegitimate 'parents'. 

 

How did you get here?  Choices—the choices made by you and by others.  The good news is that regardless of how much we all mess things up there is God that desires to make good of it all.  Follow the process—

 

Stuff Happens.  I know that my not be the most popular version of the saying but the meaning is the same.  Stuff happens and it happens for a reason all right—people make choices and there are consequences because of them.  Unfortunately, we all make poor choices throughout our life.  Hopefully, we learn from them.  However, in the meantime people are affected by our choices just as we are affected by the choices of others. 

 

Our ability to choose—our freewill—is God’s greatest blessing and curse that He gave us.  If we didn't have freewill, then we really wouldn't be living.  Rather, we would simply be puppets with strings attached to the hands of God.  We would merely be an extension of His imagination.  We certainly wouldn't have a purpose to fulfill anymore than does a doll laying on your child's bedroom floor.  We would be more like a programmed robot sent to earth.  A program has predetermined functionality--if this...then that...  No, we are not puppets with strings nor are we programmed robots walking the earth.  We are living, thinking, and personally responsible beings.  We exercise our freewill to act and, consequently due to our poor choices, the world is no longer a perfect place. If God were not to allow evil to happen, then He would have to stop our freedom of choice.  

 

If our freewill to make poor choices is what causes stuff to happen in the world, then why did God give us freewill?  The Bible says that we were created to love God.  In fact, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36-37) However, if God forced us to love Him than obviously it wouldn’t be true love, would it?  Only if one has the ability not to love but chooses to love anyway, is it genuinely true love.  Consequently, God gave us the freewill to choose to love Him or reject him.  That freewill extends to choices we make throughout our life. 

 

What is awe-inspiring, however, is regardless of how bad our choices are and those of the people around us--regardless of the mess that we may have made of life--God can ultimately use it all for our good. It is during these difficult times that our character is developed in such a way that we obtain the ability to fulfill our purpose.  How amazing is that?  God will take our struggles and use them for our strength.  Helen Keller said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."  Gothe simply said, "Character develops itself in the stream of life."  Ironically, struggles are necessary to achieve greatness.  Just as a butterfly must go through the struggle of freeing itself from its cocoon in order to develop the strength to fly, we too must grow from our struggles in order to fulfill our mission.  

 

The real question is can you say, "This is will all be for good," during the tough time prior to understanding how it worked out for you?  It is about having faith.  Given God made you for a purpose and has a plan for your life, can you have faith in Him?  A powerful verse in the Bible says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28)  Your degree of peace during difficulties reveals your faith.  Imagine the peace you would feel with the security of knowing that the God of the universe has your best interest in mind.  It's like seeing a movie for the second time and knowing all along how well it all works out in the end.  It's a lot more relaxing, isn't it?  

 

So, if you are the child on squeezed in the middle of life, don’t ask, “How did I get here?… Rather, thank God that somehow, someway your experience can be used for good.  Smile.  Have faith.  You are just passing through one frame of the movie of your life. 

Last night I had dinner with some dear friends and I asked about the story behind the Purple Heart that hung on his office wall. “Can you tell me about that?” I asked. “We saved the flag” was his immediate response. “There were only two of us left, but we saved the flag.” Piece by piece of the dramatic, lengthy battle came out until I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude toward the courageous man that stood before me. The stab wound on his leg, and the several operations that followed, left a very visible marking of the event many years later. He is a Marine, a Vietnam veteran and, although he won’t accept the title, a modern-day hero.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young soldier saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No Freedom is not free
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No Freedom isn't free!

©Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong
(posted with permission of the author)

Today, we experience many freedoms because of the sacrifices of others. Our freedoms are so plentiful and available that we naturally tend to take them for granted. Where do you live? What do you do for a living? It’s your choice. Have you been grateful lately for those freedoms? You have the freedom of speech and the freedom to worship God in your own way.

However, what if men and women over time weren’t willing to stand up for what was right and fight for the flags of freedom? Imagine how different your life would be right now. I want to encourage you to do two things:

• Stand up for what you believe in.
• Acknowledge others who have stood up before you.

Stand up for what you believe in. Ultimately, the greatest success you can have is being able to look in the mirror and see a winner looking back. Don’t do something because you think you ‘should’ do it, because your neighbor is doing it, or because you are pressured to do it. Rather, determine what is right, plant your flag and stand by it because you believe in it. Will there be consequences? Of course there will—either way. However, at the end of the day only one choice allows you to enjoy the self-respect that comes from following your convictions.

Yes, it’s true—freedom isn’t free. Benjamin Franklin said, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.” Robert Frost simply wrote, “Freedom lies in being bold.”

This post is an acknowledgement of my friend Ron, and all the other bold men and women, who “saved the flag” of freedom. I woke up on this beautiful day, February 10, 2008 with a renewed appreciation of freedom and I thank everyone who has made it possible.

When you squeeze a Banana, does orange juice come out? When you squeeze a tomato do you find apple juice? Of course not. When you squeeze something, the real thing comes out. That is, what's really inside really comes out. Amazing isn't it? Well, here's a better question: When you are squeezed, what comes out? ... Let the question just sit for a moment... When you are squeezed, what comes out? You see, adversity doesn't develop character, it reveals it. Does your answer put a smile on your face or is it concerning? When squeezed, does love come out? Anger? Compassion? What are you so filled with that it is what must come out? Okay, some of you may not like the answer. But, no worries, if you want something different to come out, then simply start filling yourself up with something new.

There is a story told by author John Maxwell in his book, Think on These Things--Meditations for Leaders, that illustrates this point. In his own words:

"Several years ago I read a true story...For four decades East Berlin was controlled by the Communists. West Berlin was free. One day some people who lived in East Berlin took a truckload of garbage and dumped it on the West Berlin side. The people of West Berlin could have retaliated by doing the same thing. But instead they took a truckload of canned goods, bread, and milk and neatly stacked it on the East Berlin side. On top of this stack of food they placed the sign: 'Each gives what he has.'"

One of the most important things you can choose to fill up with is Gratitude. Gratitude will show up as patience, peace, love, compassion and humility. It will change the way you see the world and everything in it. Gratitude begins with faith and is obtained by reframing the way you see things. One perspective may lead to pride while another perspective regarding the same situation can lead to gratitude. It's all a matter of your perspective and it is your choice to decide.

"There but for the grace of God, go I." This quotation, expressing that someone's misfortune could easily have happened to oneself or anyone at all, is commonly traced back to the British Protestant reformer John Bradford (b. 1510 - d. 1555). He is said to have made the remark, "There but for the grace of God, go John Bradford," upon seeing criminals on their way to execution. He chose not to be prideful but rather humble due to his perspective that if it wasn't for the grace of God, it could well have been himself on his way to execution. Can you get there mentally or are you certain that if you lived their life it still wouldn’t be you? It is difficult to be arrogant when you are grateful for grace. He also understood that he can still stand up for the principles he believes in while feeling humble rather than prideful towards those who have fallen short of the mark. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “He who you will change, you must first love.” Have discord with actions but love people. Be grateful for God’s grace.

Be grateful for what you have been given rather than upset over what you don't have or feel has been taken from you. What you have has been gifted to you. Count your blessings. Be grateful. All too often people complain: "I don't have enough money." "My home is a mess." "My kids are tiring." "There's nothing to eat in this house." "I'm not in good enough shape." Have you ever heard people say these things? I'm sure they are all true and, therefore, the feelings behind them are valid. However, if we want things to be better in our life we must learn to reframe them; put things into a different context. Don't try to "stuff" your feelings but rather change the perspective and your feelings will follow. To feel gratitude, change the perspective from looking at your situation from someone who is worse off than you. "I don't have enough money." Consider: Some people don't have any money at all. "My home is a mess." Consider: Millions of people are homeless. "My kids are tiring." Consider: Countless number of people want kids but can't have any. They would gladly be a tired parent. "There's nothing good to eat in this house." Consider: Millions of people are starving to death and could only dream of your last meal. "I'm not in good enough shape." Consider: Millions of people are battling cancer, AIDS, and other bodily diseases.

If you truly focus on this new perspective even when you "don't feel like it," you will notice the release of tension and a new attitude of gratitude will come over you. I know it can be hard because when we don't feel happy we don't feel like changing a perspective on anything. But, remember, your victory comes from growing through your struggles. Now, don't misunderstand, I'm not advocating not caring about improving your situation. However, I am suggesting that all the while you can always choose a perspective that fosters an attitude of gratitude. Will it make a difference in your life and in your pursuit towards fulfilling your Life Mission? Absolutely! Watch how an attitude of gratitude will draw key people closer to you along with more things for which to be grateful.

Consider if you have kids, what do you feel when they are complaining that they don't have this or that? Do you feel a sense of urgency to get it for them or do you feel frustrated or unappreciated for what you have provided? How do you suppose God feels about you? Your life and everything in it has been a gift to you. But, you have worked hard for everything? I'm sure you have. But, where did your ambition come from? It's all a gift. Be grateful even for the little things. A man was running late to a job interview and trying to park his car. He prayed, "God please give me a parking spot so I can make this interview." Just then, a car starts to pull out. Immediately the man says, "Oh, never mind God, I just found one." Yes, it is easy not to credit our gifts. Live with an attitude of gratitude and see if it is not true that more good comes your way.

 • "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

• "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

• "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

• "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

• "Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."



It was August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, when one of the defining moments in the American civil rights movement occurred in front of over two hundred thousand people as Martin Luther King, Jr. passionately shared the words, "I have a Plan..." Or, was it, "I have a Dream..." The plan wouldn't have inspired the people to pay the price of the following struggle, but the casting of a dream did. Without a dream first, nothing happens. How different is America and the rest of the world today because he dared to dream such a dream?

I hope you build the dream of your life to be big. I hope it gives you goose-bumps! In fact, I hope it is big enough that you realize you can't do it by yourself and, consequently, find yourself humbly falling to your knees for help. A small dream won’t lead you to do that. Doesn't it make sense to ask God for help? What could you accomplish with Him as your partner? More importantly, how would you accomplish it?

Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t only known for giving great speeches and leading people and change, but he was known for the way he did it. He believed that "the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.”(1)

In his own words:

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.

You may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. You may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate, nor establish love. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is not an article regarding nonviolent resistance nor should it confuse anyone as to my feelings of sincere and deep gratitude for all the many soldiers who are serving and sacrificing currently for the cause of freedom. Rather, on this day of Martin Luther King, Jr., I am noting that not only did he own a big dream, but he also carefully considered the method by which he chose to fulfill it.

Those who chase their dream with the ‘whatever it takes’ attitude will, unfortunately, have quite an awakening when they realize they sacrificed something greater than their dream if the process wasn’t in alignment with their Core Values. Without clarity of our Core Values and a commitment to making decisions in alignment to them, we will naturally default to fear-based decision making. That is, we will make decisions in our own best interest at the moment in order to avoid the manifestations of our fears.

For example, suppose it is recommended to you to do something at work that compromises your integrity. Internally, it may not 'feel' right. But, if you are not clear on your Core Values or committed to Core-Value decision making, you may well find yourself doing that something out of a fear—in this case, the fear of financial-insecurity. You did it because you feared what you may face financially if you didn’t.

The Christian worldview believes that God will provide for our needs so there is no reason to ever compromise our values. Have you ever noticed how many dramatic changes in the world came from men and women of great faith? Great faith leads to great courage. Or, as the Roman philosopher and orator, Cicero said, “A man of courage is also full of faith.”

In upcoming posts, I will discuss the extreme importance of defining, prioritizing and living by your Core Values. I’ll discuss apparent value-conflicts as well as the ‘Should-Values’ that we mistake as Core Values. Sound boring? Well, if it is excitement that you are looking for, then try recovering from bad decision making due to unclear Core Values. That will spice up your life! Making decisions that maintain alignment between your actions and your Core Values is a key to inner peace. It’s about ‘supporting yourself’.

On this great day of celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and contribution, I want to encourage you to dream big, seek His guidance, and stay true to yourself.





(1) King Jr., Martin Luther, "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence.” The Christian Century 77 (13 April 1960), pp. 439-41.

At some point we all search for meaning and purpose to our life. What is it all about? What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? In order to answer these questions there are a few necessary principles to understand:

1. You won’t clarify your purpose if you don’t stop for a moment. Your first step is to 'Stop!' Just stop for a moment. I know for many it can be a very difficult thing to do, but it is essential. For a few of you, this has never been a problem and we'll discuss the concept of 'Starting' in another posting. But, for the majority, it is all about being very busy. In fact, most people run through life in such a hurry they never stop and consider why it is they are in such a rush. "I don't really know where I'm going but at least I'm making great time!" would be an appropriate life slogan for many people. But, it has gone beyond just a fast pace, our busyness has become some sort of new status symbol--a true source of pride.

"I'm very busy" people say constantly with a proud tone in their voice.
"Me too!" someone else will quickly chime in as to not miss out on the mini-recognition ceremony taking place.
"I'm not" I love to contribute with a smile just to see them struggle to process the thought.
"Your not busy?!" they begin questioning with a look of confusion and even a bit of concern.
"What is it that you do?" they ask.
"I play with my kids. I work out. I love to read..." I'll go on.
Inevitably they interrupt me with, "That's not what I meant; what do you do for work?"
"Oh! Now that's a different question,” I'll respond.

Most people are so busy working to make money that when asked, 'What do you do?' we are just to assume the remaining part of the sentence is 'for work?' and their entire identity has become their work title: 'I am an accountant', 'I am an attorney', 'I am a carpenter'. You are? Is that who you ARE, or is that what you do for a living. It may seem like I'm splitting hairs here but I believe it is actually one of the sneaky traps that keep people from fulfilling their purpose. Because we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of working, paying bills, and generally getting through life, our purpose is merely survival and our vehicle is our work. But, is your work in line with your purpose? Have you even thought about it? I mean really thought about it. Most have not. It's like the guy visiting his neighbor only to see water covering the floor with a sink that is overflowing and a faucet still running. "Why don't you turn off the water?" the friend asks. "I don't have time to think about things like that. Can't you see I'm very busy trying to mop up this floor?"

Yes, we are very busy. We have this innate need to keep moving. But, remember, being busy doesn't necessarily mean you are being productive. Because you are in a hurry doesn't mean you are getting any closer to fulfilling your specific purpose. You will stop, sooner or later. We all will. If you stop now and think for a moment about your life, I am certain your life will represent so much more than it would have otherwise.

2. A key to discovering your purpose is to know where to look. Some people set off traveling around the world in search of answers. They may travel to the highest mountains and dive to the bottom of oceans in their quest but they will still be empty of purpose if they never look in the right place. Ironically, no matter where their travels take them, their answers travel with them. No, this discovery is not found outside but rather it is inside--inside of you. Take a moment and point at yourself. Go ahead, no one is looking. Now, look at your finger. Is it pointing to your head? No, it isn't, is it? It's pointing to your heart. Who you ARE resides in your heart. Your Creator put it there. The process of this discovery is really a matter of clarifying what deep down you already know. Then, it's simply a matter of being open to God's will in your life as you travel along your jouney.

3. Your purpose is not about doing but rather it’s about being. Too often people struggle to discover their purpose because they start in the wrong context. They ask, “What am I supposed to be doing?” It’s the wrong question. What you do is simply an expression of who you are. Your purpose is to be. Remember, we are human-beings, not human-doings. When you clarify your purpose as to who you are supposed to be, it can apply to every area of your life. If it doesn’t apply to one area of your life then you confused an expression of your purpose (eg., your vocation) with your actual purpose. For example, my purpose is to be a leader, a teacher and an inspiration. The way I apply that to family will be different than the way I apply it to work.

Once you have a handle on these principles—slowing down long enough to connect, looking within, and understanding it is about being and not doing—you are ready to clarify your purpose. In the upcoming postings, I will discuss a simple process to do just that.

I recently spoke to over 20,000 excited people affilitated with TEAM in Louisville, KY regarding Personal Mission Statements.  Since then, I have had a number of people asking me questions about the talk.  Here is an outline of the talk and a link to an article that is the best I've ever seen regarding helping someone write a personal mission statement.  Read this posting, click on the link and change your life!  Here it is:

 

In 1970, sociologist Dr. Edward Banfield of Harvard University described a profound study on success and priority setting.  He was searching for why some ...   more »