SEEKING THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

Inasmuch as we gravitate individually and collectively toward goals for sustained spiritual growth, life continually presents challenges for accountability. It is this accountability that we have to embrace for all things good. We wake up every single day, taking for granted that we’re so privileged in doing so; we’re not always faithful and thankful in paying homage to a higher order. Worst, we don’t know the real reason why we’re here! Moreover, we’re not even using the God-given talents for any spiritually discerned aspirations. As such, we should be doing all we can to make us favorable to Him and forever keeping us linked. I contend first and foremost that we start with an introspective look at self and take a full inventory. Those innate beliefs, real or imagined are usually shaped by discernable maxims either observed or embraced to formulate whatever resolve would facilitate opinionated views. I take it personally and espouse to be different and make a difference as I assess my self worth. There was a time where life was going way too fast to be meaningful. I knew I needed to slow down and realign my sights to be able to see clearly and think sanely. Refocusing is easily said than done without a center of spirituality and direction. With determined vim and vigor, I decided to try jumping on a bandwagon of inspirational thought that’s sweeping the nation shedding light on self-worth. I speak passionately of Rich Warren’s signature best-selling book and adjunct properties, The Purpose Driven Life. This book and all of the other commodities that it has spawned is truly a book for the ages!

With this essay, I will give an overview of what should be done to seek the type of life envisioned in the book, and introduce a generic, if not personal synopsis of how it should work for those who need a new lease on life. To get to my points of contention, I’ve stopped to ask myself to looking inwardly at the bigger picture here. Hundreds of Christian churches and individuals are undergoing a 40-day study instituted into the book by attempting to answer the introspective question: What on Earth Am I here for? Answering this question is not simple, nor is it a clear and concise enough query where the multitude of people can come up with a de factor answer to satisfy everyone being on the same page to accomplish it. So along comes a Rick Warren with ‘thus sayeth the Lord’ dictates for sound judgment for compliance. Warren’s answer is to the point: You’re here to do good works, love and serve God and be an active part of church with methods to strive to be Christ-like. You are here for a purpose and with a purpose.

The I, me, mine syndrome will always be present to cause havoc with God’s people as they strive to keep focused and in tune to a structured life. I’m not surprised that this book has taken the nation by storm, and it’s good that more study groups are going beyond the author’s 40-day directive and realigning to a purposeful daily devotional. They are arranged by the five purpose driven precepts – one for each day of each week within the time frame: Worship, Fellowship, Growth, Service and Mission. It should help to focus each day on one of the themes and keep your goal(s) intact. If one would take each for individual merit, a model to extrapolate would be as such:

· Worship – One cannot benefit from finding themselves without establishing rapport with God. Worship isn’t just for Sunday. Everyday is an opportunity to praise God for blessings and the world’s beauty.
· Fellowship – What better way to extend Agape love than to share with others your purpose, and to extract from them, theirs? God wants people to make meaningful relationships to become close to other members of their faith and beyond.
· Growth – In order to go forward, one must deal with, and know from whence they came. As you grow spiritually, you become more gentle and caring, as Jesus was, and are able to defeat temptation.
· Service – Due diligence begets heightened effort for meaningful goals. The work behind your passion will allow desired results. You must accept and understand your “assignment” to help God and you derive joy in knowing and completing your purpose.
· Mission – Never lose sight of your vision. You are not an accident. You are here for a purpose. We must strive to balance our lives to fulfill the mission and become a ‘world-class’ Christian.

If all of the above were adhered to we wouldn’t readily feel that without a purpose life would be trivial, petty and pointless. Rather, we would know our place and endeavor accordingly. On a personal note, I do not look at myself as pious or holier than thou. I’m human, and have made my share of mistakes…but at this point in life, I want to make my election and calling a sure one. So what order do I place this story? It matters more that I illustrate how all of these purposes are the very facets that will shape my awareness that God is first in my life, and that the purpose I seek in life is to believe that I can make a difference!