I once dated a struggling British actress. We talked about how hard it was to make it in the movie biz. She mentioned meeting a 35 year old actor who’d wrapped work on a “kid’s movie” at London’s Elstree Studios. It was his first lead role, he told her, but he was pretty sure it was going to bomb, so he was busy lining up carpentry jobs back in L.A.
Then the “kid’s movie” Star Wars was released. Harrison Ford had to cancel a lot of office remodeling gigs. Because, after 15 years as an underemployed actor, he was suddenly the number one box office star in the world, and remained so for over two decades.
Henry David Thoreau said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Why? Because so many fail to be who they really are, or even work up the courage to find out. It’s true that there are those who are deluded, who relentlessly pursue a false calling (fame, wealth, power), but they too have failed to find out who they truly are. I once met a teenage girl who was passionate about becoming an embalmer. Hey, not my cup of formaldehyde, but more power to her. Keep looking. Keep listening.
Who are you? It may take years to find out–Ray Kroc was 50 when he mustered up the pluck to go into business for himself, with a little burger stand called McDonald’s; Grandma Moses picked up her first paint brush at age 78–but the journey will be greater than any adventure you’ll ever have in the guise of someone you were not created to be. And by the way…
It helps to check with the one who created you.
“[Abraham] did not waver is trusting the promise of God, but grew strong in his faith, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.”
~Romans 4:20-21
Ugh…cup of farmaldahyde. Creepy, but funny. 🙂
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I’m with you Mitch. At 63 I’m still trying to find my real purpose. I guess the fact that I’m still searching is a positive,right?
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Yes, or refining it at any rate.
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The line about living a life of quiet desperation has always hit home. Makes me think of a line out of the Aussie film Strictly Ballroom. “A life lived in fear is a life half lived.”
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Yes.
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Thanks for the inspiration.
It’s funny that at the age of 65, I keep coming back to what I loved doing ever since I could pick up a pencil. My remember my first “book” written in a brown spiral notebook, illustrated by yours truly. I also remember writing a paper about space, saying a man went to the moon. I explained to my parents, “I know that hasn’t happened yet, but by the time this is published, it probably will have happened.” (I was six.)
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Six year old writer AND prophet. ;>)
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And Sarai (Sarah) laughed.
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Excellent! Thanks for that great reminder. I feel as if – at age 66 – I’m closing in on it. Stay tuned!
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We wait with bated breath, Russ. ;>)
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Nice to remember this when you’re 12 years into your 15 of failure. Keep going you’ll make it someday.
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Thanks, I needed that. So much appreciated to hear some words of encouragement.
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Such an inspiring post!
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romans 4:45-46 & 47
missing romans 4:22
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