Do you ever feel like you're running in circles, not making any progress forward? Are you stuck in the same rut, day in and day out? Do work and home responsibilities fill your thoughts every day, leaving you no time to ponder your dreams, much less time to pursue them?
It's the awareness of that void in our lives that frequently serves to propel us into a time of transition, a time of recognizing our need to create changes in our life so that we feel our lives have meaning. We want our lives to have purpose, to know that we're on this earth to serve a higher purpose than just existing from day-to-day.
It was a year ago that I sent my manuscript to the book editor. I still remember the exhilaration of finally having it completed. I had stayed up several nights in a row - working almost around the clock - to finish it before we left on a much deserved vacation!
Twelve months before, the idea for Bring It On! was a germ of a seed that had just been planted, a response to my plea to God to give my life meaning and purpose. In Chapter 7, I quote from my journal in March 2003:
Dear God,
Please show me your purpose for my life. Give me your vision for how my life can be used to bless others. I want a dream that is bigger than me, something that could only be tackled with you moving the mountains of impossibility out of the way. Thank you, Lord.
Last evening, we had the privilege of having a missionary couple from a 100% Muslim country in our home for dinner and fellowship. I can't share with you where they are serving for the safety of this couple and their family, but they've now been there four years. I asked them how long they intended to stay and their response was that they planned to stay until a Christian church had been established in that country. The only obstacle in the way is that the government exiled or imprisoned for life anyone that professed Christian faith.
You'd think after four years that this couple would have lost some of their initial drive and passion, but quite the contrary! They were more fired up and driven with purpose than when they'd first arrived. Just days before returning to the states for a two month visit, they met a Christian believer who boldly told them that some sacrifices were going to have to be made to start a church...and he was willing to let those sacrifices start with him!
I am deeply humbled by their passion for their work, yet I know that the vision God has called me to is no less important. The responses that I get from those of you who have read Bring It On! move me to tears sometimes - not because I did anything so great, but because God is using the words that I wrote to touch women's lives and give them hope and encouragement for a fulfilling and abundant life.
The mission statement of Path Partners is to "inspire women to lead productive lives with passion and purpose - no matter what your age!" I don't know exactly where Path Partners will be in five or ten years, but I do know that it will continue to be guided by this purpose.
Action Step:
Write a prayer in your journal asking God to show you His purpose for your life. Ask Him for a vision that will combine your unique gifts, talents, and personal passions, but at the same time would require His divine intervention to move any obstacles out of the way.
Don't expect an immediate response (although don't be surprised if you get one), but continue to search, stay alert to the possibilities, and keep moving forward as doors begin to open to you.
Enjoy the journey!
Ask the Coach
Q. How do I learn that it's okay just to be still and not feel guilty if I'm not busy enough? (Linda T.)
Christine: Linda, you've already figured out that it's okay to take time for yourself and not always be busy running from one activity or project to the next. What you need is to reprogram your mind so that you feel good about taking this time and not haunted by all the things that you think you should be doing instead. First of all, realize that even our Creator took one day off to relax and appreciate his work over the six previous days! Secondly, just as you stop periodically and refuel your vehicle, you also need to stop on a regular basis to refuel your mind, body, and spirit. If you run out of gas with your car, you break down and can't go any farther. If you don't take time to rest and rejuvenate yourself, you, too, will eventually break down. On the other hand, when you take time for regular "tune ups," you'll discover that you have a lot more to give to the people and projects in your life that matter most. We give out of an overflowing cup, not out of an empty one.