Different Ways People Are Fulfilling Their Purpose And Assignment

Her father was an unsuccessful shoemaker, and a drunk. Due to poverty, she was forced to begin working at a factory at age 14 to help support her family. She was one of only four surviving children of the parents, and the only one to live above 30 years of age. She was only five feet tall, and by most of today’s standards, may well have been voted the least likely to succeed.

However, deep within her soul was a genuine resolve to follow in the steps of other people who spent their lives in search of something greater than they were. A holy fire burned in her soul. It was the knowledge that there was more to life than she had experienced. She wanted to live for a Cause far greater than herself.

So, at the age of 27, she enrolled to be a missionary to Africa. This was in 1873! The situation in African at that time was certainly less than inviting, to say the least, yet, something in her won’t let go of the dream to go make a difference. She was sent to Calabar, Nigeria, at the age of 28. She gallantly faced hardships unimaginable to the modern individual. She was flown back to Scotland twice on account of serious illness, yet she survived, and went back to live among the natives of Calabar. She lived with, and served the natives for about 40 years before she died January 13, 1915.

That was Mary Slessor, the ‘white ma of Africa’. I am wondering...what could motivate a woman like Mary prefer to live among the poor and suffer hardships with the people she served? It was her love for Jesus Christ, and her desire to live for Him who is infinitely greater than she is. For Mary, her search for meaning was attained through her faith in Christ, and expressed by her extraordinary service to Him through her missionary activities in Calabar, Nigeria.

Yes, for Mary Slessor, living out her purpose, and her search for meaning, required a dramatic lifestyle like the one we just discribed. But purpose comes in different shades and styles. Purpose could come to town, live for years in the neighborhood, and not even be noticed, much less, recognzed for who she is. Ah, how simple, but infinitely profound, can purpose be, both in appearance and in its effect.

This was certainly the case in the life of a precious woman who lives in the same community as mine. She was well educated, with a Masters degree in Music, which was her passion. But somewhere along those years of schooling, she got saved, and was also healed of severe artritic pains. She found Jesus Christ as Savior and friend.

While her fellow graduands were busy planning for a future career, marriage and family, she dedicated herself to serving her local church in prayer for the rest of her life. She is not on staff of the church, and so does not recieve salary. She coaches individuls on music lessons, and uses the small proceeds from that to support herself. She chose not to marry and have not had regrets about it.For her, loving and serving her savior and friend was more important. She has already spent about two decades living for, and serving her Lord.

Now, this is happening in 21st century United States of America. Everyday, this woman recieves prayer requests from hurting members of her church, who are certain that godly prayers will be offered up on their behalf, often with tears. She has borne so many griefs and pains on behalf of the people of God, still she feels that she hasn't done enough for her dear Lord and friend. Hers is a secret assignment, stripped of the 'glamor' and affirmation that go with pulpit or even music ministry.

I call her 'sister' Linda. Probably, the 'sister' is my way of expressing endearment to this saint of God, or may be, it is an expression of my healthy awe of her commitment to living out the purpose of God for her life and the holy life to which she is dedicated. Either way, sister Linda reminds me daily of not only the power of purpose when it takes hold of an individual, but also the simplicity by which purpose can be lived out even in this postmodern world. She did not go out to Africa like Mary Slessor did, but right in her own community and in her local church, she is daily living the purpose of God, and finding meaning and joy.

Did you know you could link this blog to your website? You could also invite a friend to visit with you. Thanks for spreading the discovery of purpose.

Even The Richest Man On Earth Is Still In Search Of Purpose

The day was Thursday,June 20, 2006. We all woke up to hear that the world's richest man, Bill Gates, will be stepping down from day to day executive activities at Microsoft. This transition will take place over a two year period. I think this was Mr Gates exact words: "I'm very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging..."

Wao, those are strong words, coming from a man of Gates' worth and abilities. Two things are so important and so challenging? No one could doubt that Microsoft and software development have been Gates' passion. But the second one? Dedicating the rest of his life working at a charitable organization which he and Melinda founded.

Now, this is what is so suprising about this whole deal...Gates seem to suggest that the work at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is as important and as challenging as his work at Microsoft. How can giving away billions of dollars for charity be as important and as challenging as software development and amassing billions of dollars? If you don't think this is a huge paradigm change, then may be, you don't understand the issues at stake. In fact, in Gates' own words, "This was a hard decision for me". And this is even more glaring when we consider that Gates is only 51 years or so old.

What's the big deal, you say? To my mind, Gates' decision to devote more time to charity is proof that even the richest man on earth and one of the smartest human beings the world has ever known, is actively in search of meaning for his own life. What is the purpose of money in itself, except as a tool to accomplishing general good to humanity and fulfilling God's will? Bill Gates is telling me clearly, by his decision, that the will to meaning is more important than any other human need.

Yes, money, even lots of it, as in the case of Bill Gates, can not satisfy the desire in all of us to make our lives count for something intrinsically more valuable than material things or fame. There is a void in all of us that money or pleasure can not fill. That void can only be filled when we find out who we are and what we were created to be and do. "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for"( Message), makes more sense to me in the light of the above.

One more thought. What life goals am I setting for myself? It had better not be a mere physical or materialistic goal. Bill Gates has proven to me that, I could wake up at 51 years old just to realize that I spent 30 years pursuing a goal that does not count the most when my years on earth are over. What matters most to me? Doesn't it make sense for me to listen deep into my soul, and to my Creator, and find the purpose for my life and live it? Bill will find deep satisfaction from, not only giving his money away, but being personally involved in the hurting world we live in. He will probably get more chance to personally review some of the dire cases that come to Bill and Melinda foundation regularly. There is something that happens to a man when he gets a chance to not only see such problems first hand, but also has the ability to truly relieve the sufferers of their pain. No money can buy that.

Bill Gates is committed to living out his purpose. Am I committed to mine?

Did you know you could link this blog to your website? You could also invite your friends to come check us out. That is a neat way to witness for Christ, and spread the discovery of purpose.