Discovering purpose this year
Why on earth are you here?
Has anyone ever asked you that question? If you ever hear it in a harsh tone of voice, you may find yourself tempted to shrink back and away. (Been there, done that.)
Have you ever asked yourself this question? If so, how did you answer it? Maybe you’re still working out the answer, gathering bits and pieces of insight along the way through podcasts, books, lectures, and life hacks.
One of the tools that has helped me is creating a life mission statement through the Younique process. Now that I have been through the process, I have helped quite a few people give voice to their life mission statements along the way through personal coaching and life planning. My mission statement has evolved over the last 15 years. It has gained clarity and precision. Younique helped me shape my mission into its most motivating form yet.
I help people experience the maximum expression of their life stories.
Everyone has a story to live and to tell. Have you ever noticed that the first book of the Bible, Genesis, is not a theological treatise along the lines of John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion or Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics? Instead, it is made up of stories about people who are all too real and relatable. Adam and Eve have a less-than-ideal marriage. Adam doesn’t bother to name his wife until after the Fall, even though he named all the animals and birds as God brought them to him.
Cain tried to manipulate God with his offering. That didn’t work, so he killed his brother.
Real people; real problems. Why does God teach us theology in this manner? It may have something to do with the fact that we relate better to stories than theological propositions in large books with tiny print and no pictures.
Every one of us is part of God’s epic poem (Ephesians 2:10). Each of us has our role to play, our work to accomplish, our success to achieve. Together, in God’s strength and with his resources, we can make something of our lives which honors God and serves others.
What’s your story?
Your life has more significance than you know. You have more meaning than you imagine. How can you maximize your story in such a manner that people see how good God is and find within themselves the capacity to positively influence their corners of the world?
Walk through a life mission development process. Write and commit to memory a mission statement as unique as you are. Make sure it reflects who you are in every context—your home, work and leisure. Consider your personality and strengths, your giftedness and experiences.
Most importantly, live on mission wherever you are, whatever you are doing. That is how you maximize your story.
Photo source: istock
 | David Bowman, (DMin, PCC) is the Executive Director of Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, Texas. He also serves as a Multiplying Trainer for Future Church Co. Learn More » |
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- Why Paul didn’t exercise his “right” to be a “full-time missionary” (by Jordan Raynor)
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- Words of advice to a young minister (by Richard Blackaby)
