Therefore, at the heart of the meaning of work is creativity. If you are God, your work is to create out of nothing. If you are not God, but like God—that is, if you are human—your work is to take what God has made and shape it and use it to make him look great.
John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life
After I retired from corporate life I went through a season of wondering what my purpose was now that I was no longer a Business Analyst. Eventually I realized my purpose, and the fulfilling of it, had nothing to do with the role I played at work and everything to do with simply living my life.
It’s easy to get caught up in believing we must have a title or a defined role to validate us when, in truth, we are already validated by virtue of the fact that we are here. The Creator of everything (every thing!) chose to create you and me and implanted within us a tapestry of unique interests, abilities, and giftings.
That’s the first thing to remember. The foundation, if you will.
Then, knowing that our intrinsic value comes simply from the fact that we were created and we are loved, with wonder and gratitude we use the gifts given us to ascribe honour to the Creator, thus fulfilling our purpose.
Simple.
The first and most obvious gift is that of life, so live it well. Whether it’s chatting with a clerk at the grocery store, giving a presentation in a meeting, or cleaning my bathroom, I fulfill my purpose by being present in the moment and doing whatever it is to the best of my ability.
Every hand taken, listening ear given, book written, painting painted, song sung, garden grown, photograph captured, quilt sewn—all of it fulfills our purpose of glorifying our Creator when we do it well.
When I think about the handful of people who have had life-altering influence on my life, in every case they impacted me simply by living their life: getting up in the morning, going to work (or staying home to work), doing a job well and with integrity, treating people with dignity and respect, and standing strong in their faith. They lived their purpose and changed my life.
That’s it. Simple.
No need to be a Business Analyst, or a CEO, or anything at all other than who you are where you are. Live life well, use your gifts, honour the Creator, thus fulfilling your purpose, and lives will be changed. I promise.
# # #
Simple happy.
Three people in a room praying.
Soy milky frothy morning coffee.
Blue sky.
Melting snow.
Yorkie eyes.
Thank you for your beautiful post and the beautiful heart behind the words. I’m reminded of a truth learned long ago and it gives me a renewed freedom to keep going, to suit up and keep showing up to the game. “Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly.”
More often than not my effort in this life, the very best of my ability, my attempt at giving-it-the-ol’-college-try’ is not yet fully developed, highly skilled or a graceful thing to behold. Truthfully, I do some things very poorly and shake my head as some abilities have even diminished with the passing of time and I’m simply not what I used to be. Yet, they are still worth doing. So we awkwardly pray with others…b/c it is worth doing. We listen to another’s heart and find words painfully inadequate…b/c it is worth doing. We show up everyday in our own lives and in the lives of others whether weary or joyful …b/c it is worth doing.
You live your life well…and I am blessed.
Wise words. Sometimes it’s hard to muster the energy to show up but when we do the reward far outweighs the risk, doesn’t it? We still stumble and make mistakes but we continue to move forward, trusting that we are doing the work given us and making a difference as we walk through our day-to-day and grow more and more into that which we were created to be. Grateful to walk part of this life with you, my friend. You continue to inspire and challenge me.