Mark Twain wrote, “The most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” Pablo Picasso went a little farther, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” Neither of those gentlemen is a noted theologian, but then neither am I. However, I do find their insight has application for our relationship with God and living a Christian life.
The revelations described in those two quotes are real, but sometimes they come to us in stages over time and not in a “Eureka!” moment or even a single day. From birth to age eleven, I was just learning to marvel at the world around me; love, respect and obey my parents; feel their love for me; and respect my teachers and elders. Then, I was introduced to Jesus in Vacation Bible School and I received my second, spiritual birth. (John 3) From that point on I began my search for the meaning and purpose of my life with the Holy Spirit within me leading the way.
By the age of 22, I had completed my four years of military service and was ready to settle into married life. My wife and I were active in our church. She taught a girls’ Sunday School and I began to speak at Wednesday evening prayer meetings. I loved studying the Bible as I wrote the messages and enjoyed just as much sharing them. Our elders gave me an exhorter’s license that allowed me to preach as a lay preacher in our denomination. I loved sharing the Gospel with others, but I always knew I wasn’t called to pastor a church and my wife wasn’t called to be a pastor’s wife. I was getting closer to my gift and purpose, but not there yet. My secular jobs took us from St. Louis to Iowa and finally to the Chicago suburbs. Each position allowed me to improve my communication skills but I still wasn’t sure how to use my gift. It wasn’t until I became a corporate trainer and had several articles published in a national trade magazine that I realized mentoring others was both my gift and my calling.
My gift went into an incubation period after my retirement and my wife’s three year battle with cancer. When she died, I was lost and on my own for the first time in fifty years. Then, as I’ve written before, that young pastor looked at me one Sunday and said, “God isn’t done with you yet!” My passion to “give my gift away” was renewed. God provided me with this blog to allow me to finally use my gift to share my Christian experience with others; again with the Holy Spirit leading the way. I am so grateful for the popularity of this blog that has allowed me to touch and encourage Christians from around the world. It has always been His message, not mine. I’m just glad He has taken me along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoy sharing with you and I pray you are encouraged by it. I will continue until God tells me my tour of duty here is complete.
Whether you have a “wow” moment or it takes many years as it did for me; there is a gift and purpose for your life. One warning; never compare your gift or purpose to someone else’s! We are each unique so any comparison is meaningless. Every gift God gives each of us is valuable and important to Him and every purpose is noble! The miracle is this: no matter how many people you share your gift with; you will never run out, but you will be blessed beyond measure.