Purpose
The other day I came across the results of a “life purpose workshop” I participated in a few years ago. Here’s my purpose statement (drumroll please)…
As I live and love with God and others, my life purpose is to appreciate the present moment and seek compassionate and creative ways to engage the world.
It’s a little trite, but it’s a lot true.
I’m closest to my best self when I’m in the present moment (not worrying about the future or rehashing the past). And, I’m much more filled with God’s joy when I’m focused on creative pursuits that connect me to the experiences of other people.
The workshop told me to ask myself two things at the end of the day: 1) How did God use me to do what only I could do? and 2) Where did I express my life purpose today?
Often in life we are awaiting new beginnings and taking stock of who we have been. So, I’m glad to come across this semi-cheesy statement about my purpose as an individual. It’s helping me pray right now.
I’m also glad to remember an ancient “purpose statement” about the good news of Jesus Christ...
The glory of God is a person fully alive. – St Irenaeus (2nd century)
For instance, when I remember the "Christmas Story" I find myself betting the shepherds were never more alive than when they followed the angels’ song to the manger, and truly the wisemen were never closer to their purpose than when they looked into the sky, noticed the light, and chose to follow it to the Christ child.
May we remember how the love of God purposefully entered human life to heal the world. Part of remembering this is to seek our purpose in God as a way God heals us.
As I live and love with God and others, my life purpose is to appreciate the present moment and seek compassionate and creative ways to engage the world.
It’s a little trite, but it’s a lot true.
I’m closest to my best self when I’m in the present moment (not worrying about the future or rehashing the past). And, I’m much more filled with God’s joy when I’m focused on creative pursuits that connect me to the experiences of other people.
The workshop told me to ask myself two things at the end of the day: 1) How did God use me to do what only I could do? and 2) Where did I express my life purpose today?
Often in life we are awaiting new beginnings and taking stock of who we have been. So, I’m glad to come across this semi-cheesy statement about my purpose as an individual. It’s helping me pray right now.
I’m also glad to remember an ancient “purpose statement” about the good news of Jesus Christ...
The glory of God is a person fully alive. – St Irenaeus (2nd century)
For instance, when I remember the "Christmas Story" I find myself betting the shepherds were never more alive than when they followed the angels’ song to the manger, and truly the wisemen were never closer to their purpose than when they looked into the sky, noticed the light, and chose to follow it to the Christ child.
May we remember how the love of God purposefully entered human life to heal the world. Part of remembering this is to seek our purpose in God as a way God heals us.