Tag: purpose

No comments

A Brief Reflection on Clarity, Purpose and Passion

  By , ,

In the midst of dusting off my resume and moving toward the next phase of my career, I have been thinking a lot about purpose, and just how hard it has been to figure out.  A long time ago I read Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, and have been searching for my purpose ever since.  I still don’t know my what it is.  I’ve read at least 5-10 other books about purpose since then and they’re all great, but…

Then not too long ago I was either listening to a Tim Ferriss podcast, reading one of his blog posts, or perhaps it was reading his most recent book, Tools of Titans, when I came across this great quote:

Forget purpose.  It’s okay to be happy without one.  The quest for a single purpose has ruined many lives.
-James Altucher

 

Thanks James, I mean Mr. Altucher.  That statement kind of freed me a little bit.

I also read a lot of other books about business, building a client list, how to be successful, yada, yada, yada…and they all talk about following your passion.  If you look up passion in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of me listed as an antonym (that means the opposite for those of you who were snoozing through english class).  Seriously.  A friend and client of mine even nicknamed me “Flatline.”  So following my passion never quite made sense to me – I didn’t really see my self as passionate about anything.

Then I was listening to another podcast and heard this gem:

Never follow your passion, but always bring it with you.
-Mike Rowe

 

Cool.  I can definitely move forward without following a passion, but I know I come across things occasionally that get me fired up, and it’s good to know passion will be there when I need it.  It’s in my car, but it’s not driving.

Then the other day I was simply going through some past journals and notebooks gathering quotes to type into Evernote for future blog posts, and I came across this last gem, that pretty much inspired this post:

Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of…I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust.
– Mother Theresa

 

I have never had clarity either, and I always thought something was wrong with me.  It’s nice to know I’m in good company, now all I need to do is work on trust…something I have had to do a lot of in the past five years.

 

 

One Comment

Letting Go: Plans

  By , , ,

We all make plans for our lives.  God has a plan for all of us.  When our plans align with God’s awesome things happen.

Our Plans

We all make plans – some good and some not so good; some we keep and some we abandon; some which we are conscious of and some we are not.  King Solomon recognized that we make plans both with our hearts and with our minds:

The heart of man plans his way (Prov. 16:9)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man (Prov. 19:21)

However, those plans are not always righteous:

Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. (Prov 24:8)

The prophet Isaiah put it this way:

As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.  But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands. (Is. 32:7-8)

Think about the plans you have made or are in the process of making and identify the primary beneficiary.  Are any of your plans made for the benefit of others?  If not, what changes could you make to include the benefit of others?

God’s Plans

Solomon didn’t just recognize that we make plans with our hearts and minds, he also recognized that whatever plans we make, God’s purpose stands firm and He is there to guide our steps:

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps (Prov. 16:9)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Prov. 19:21)

We can make our plans, and even carry them out, but nothing we plan will alter God’s ultimate purpose.  In fact, God has incredible plans for us, for our ultimate good:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jer. 29:11)

Sometimes we might feel like God’s plan for us is completely off track.  Is it His plan or ours that is truly off track?

Have you ever contemplated what God’s plan for you might be?  Do you see God’s plan for you as something good or bad?  Why?

The Great Alignment

Okay, so I get that we have plans (for good or for evil) and God has plans (for good), but what does this have to do with Letting Go?

When we are willing to

  • seek out counsel,

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.  (Prov 15:22)

  • seek out what God has planned for us,

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  (Jer 29:12-13)

  • and commit our actions to God,

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Prov. 16:3)

then we are Letting Go of the plans that come from a selfish desire, and allowing God to establish our steps according to his good purpose, for the perfect satisfaction of our deepest desires.

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!  (Psalm 20:4)

A desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prov. 13:12)

Author and preacher John Piper puts it beautifully this way:

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

Are you satisfied with your plans, or are you willing to let go of your plans to seek satisfaction in God and experience the promised fulfillment of your heart’s desire?