I’m not very consistent (okay, I’m not consistent at all) with this blog thing. I’m much better with twitter (see my tweats on the left). It seems it easier to think, write, and post in two-sentence blasts. Well, for me anyway.
So, a random thought just crossed my mind. Ever have the penetrating question that haunts you til you are satisfied with an answer? If I can share one of mine (among many if I focus and think about them) was this question posed one Sunday by our Singles’ Bible Fellowship teacher, John Ankerberg. It may not sound earth shaking today (it was almost 24 years ago that he first challenged me) but he was ahead of his time then and perhaps now. The question? How will you spend 100,000 hours of your life? That, in essence, is your working contribution while you are on this planet, give or take a few hours. His follow-up question was, “If money was absolutely no issue, what would you do? So… why aren’t you doing that?” What a moment of enlightenment for a then 25 year-old unsatisfied accountant. My search and openness toward an answer re-framed my life’s purpose and vocation.
How about it? I believe God has a ‘sweet spot’ for us that feels right when we’re in it. Remember Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner made famous in the movie Chariots of Fire? When asked why he ran, he replied something like this: “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Do you feel the pleasure of God in what you do and how you are spending your time? One of my friends on twitter (and fellow blogger, Ron Edmondson, in the column at the right of this post) raised another similar question recently: ”How will the world be improved, changed or different if the vision for your life comes true?” Answering those related questions are worth your time. While we need to enjoy the journey (and I’m still learning how), it needs to be toward the right destination. Then the outcome(s) as well as the means will be in alignment.
How do you find out? “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7, NLT). But the key? Be willing to act on what you discover. That is a step of faith. Give yourself permission to see your greatest desire fulfilled. Don’t take yourself out of the equation. Don’t say, “That could never happen to me. I could never _____ ” (fill in that blank). Yes, you can (if you will)! As John Piper says in his book title, “Don’t Waste Your Life.” As Switchfoot sings, “We were meant to live for so much more!” Let your life be a song. You still have thousands of hours. But the clock is ticking. Read (or re-read) Rick Warren’s, “The Purpose Driven Life.” Search the scriptures. Ask God for guidance. Be active while waiting.
Thank you, Dr. Ankerberg, for challenging me with what matters! To the extent I stay true to our common King, may my life influence others as yours has, as Eric Liddell’s has, as Switchfoot’s has, as John Piper’s has, as Rick Warren’s has, as Matthew’s (and Mark, Luke, John, and Paul) has! There is only one me, one contribution that I can make. I don’t want to miss the purpose for which I was created! I don’t want you to, either!
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