LONGING FOR GOD’S PURPOSE, DAY ONE

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Wednesday, March 26th

In my younger years, I sincerely longed to know God’s purpose for my life and vocation. I wanted to please God by choosing the right career path, the right way to live and serve each day, and honestly, I longed to please God in order to be “blessed” with a happy and fulfilling life. Now I understand that neither is contingent on the other. I am loved and blessed by God through all of life–in every disappointment, sorrow, failure, success, joy, and surprise.

Yet, I still carry this holy longing to somehow know and fulfill God’s purpose for me. I long to live in meaningful ways, to discover a sacred reason for my existence, to have a holy purpose to pursue. This is a universal longing many of us share.

Jesus and (author) Barbara Brown Taylor have wise words for us and our longings. First, Jesus gives us the foundation for a life of holy purpose with his simple and succinct instruction:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” ~ Mark 12:30

Then, Barbara Brown Taylor shares a personal insight (in Chapter 7 of her book, An Altar in the World):

Then one night when my whole heart was open to hearing from God what I was supposed to do with my life, God said, “Anything that pleases you.”
“What?” I said, resorting to words again. “What kind of an answer is that?”
“Do anything that pleases you,” the voice in my head said again, “and belong to me.”

Isn’t this so comforting and reassuring? Our purpose and our joy come from belonging to God and loving what we do. But there is more. We find additional wisdom in what Jesus says next:

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. ~ Mark 12:31

And Barbara Brown Taylor’s thoughts help clarify what we are seeking…

Call me a romantic, but I think most people want to be good for something. I think they want to do something that matters, to be part of something bigger than themselves, to give themselves to something that is meaningful instead of meaningless. *

Whatever we do in life, we can give ourselves to something meaningful, something that matters, by loving God and caring for one another. Small or mundane tasks become meaningful when we use them to serve, reflect, pray, or listen in love. Less than ideal vocations become opportunities to kindly serve clients or coworkers (perhaps while we search for a better place to be). Delightful vocations and creative outlets become venues for sharing our joy with others as we gather in community, teach our skills, or offer our expertise.

By loving God and one another, our daily, ordinary lives will naturally become part of something bigger than ourselves–and we will have found our holiest call and purpose.



* Taylor, Barbara Brown. An Altar in the World. New York, Harper Collins, © 2009.
Bible verses are NIV found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
(Photo by Karen)