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
Great post about the importance of purpose! I just wrote about this being the time of year when many take a look back and also give some thought to the new year. ” Quiet desperation ” perfectly describes what I have done….get up in the morning and drive to a job I knew wasn’t right. Rick Warren gave us a good reminder in his book, Purpose Driven Life. I believe the first words of the first chapter were something close to ” It’s not about me “…Since God knew us before we were born, He would truly have a purpose for our lives. I believe God will reveal this in prayer for us and that our His/our purpose can change over the years. I appeciate you sharing your walk of faith!
Yep, the opening sentence of The Purpose Driven Life is, “It’s not about you.” Ironically, embracing that truth is the key to understanding who we truly are. The central paradox of Jesus’ teaching is that we must die to live. Thanks, Rick!
Great thoughts thank you. I’ll be seeking God’s purpose for my life afresh in 2017. I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do the good works He predestined for me to walk in them and so I shall. Happy, successful and prosperous new year.
Wonderful words! 🙂
Thank you for this important reminder. I needed this.
You always have me hanging onto every word! I’ve never taken a liking to Thoreau, yet that’s more due to his writing style than his message. The quote you cited certainly rings true though. Great post, Mitch!
Thank you, JJ!
Great post Mitch! As always, it truly spoke to my heart… and right where I am. I tend to say, “I still don’t know what I’m supposed to be when I grow up.” 😄 But the truth is that who I am now has unfolded one day and one step at a time…and every day of the journey, I look forward to seeing what is around the next corner and beyond the bend. I doubt it will be a 20 year acting gig, but hey, ya never know! 😂He is in control! ☝🏻
Yep. Knowing what we’re called to doesn’t mean knowing in advance how it’ll play out. But then, that’s part of the adventure, isn’t it, Dori?
It sure is… Adventure: an exciting or very unusual experience. I’m guessing we can both say there has been nothing ‘usual’ about it! 🙂
Thank you for this post Mitch. So life affirming! The upside of aging is how little energy is left over to waste on other people’s idea of you. Instead, we zero in on our Truth of who we who we were born to be. Freedom at its’ Highest.🌟
Great point, Andrea!
Thanks for this! Did you find that it took you a while to figure out who you are? My problem seems to be that I have too many passions. I feel I need ten lifetimes. Not sure if this means I don’t know myself yet or if I’m just overly-enthusiastic about life! Anyway, great post as always.
Yes! I’ve known since I was young that I was creative (acting, music, writing, more), but didn’t really grasp what my core calling was until I reached middle age. Even now, I’m still watching the onion layers peel back, which probably mean I’m an ogre (Shrek). Thanks, K!
Haha! That’s so encouraging. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Wonderful post! It’s so hard to not feel intimidated at the prospect of trying to fulfil your dreams, especially when trying to sift through the real ones and those that are misguided…
Thank you, Rachael! Yes, it is. I think people, especially young people, make the mistake of thinking they’ll figure it out all at once, but calling tends to be a progressive revelation. I knew a world-class football player who looked out at the crowd during his first NFL game (after years of struggling to get there) and realized he was more passionate about leading those people to Christ than in playing football. He enrolled in seminary, and is now a pastor.
You’re so right: we can’t go wrong if we check in with our all-wise God who created each of us unique to fulfill specific purposes. And we never need to be “afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God” (Corrie ten Boom). Such comfort in that! Also find encouragement in those verses you highlighted from Romans, chapter four. Thank you for an uplifting post, Mitch, that nudges us forward!
Aw, thank you, fellow-nudger!
Its things like this that keep me hanging in there. I just finished my NaNoWriMo project, and am back to the 4th draft of my first novel with the second one being plotted and the first draft of the third book (oy! you have no idea how weird it has gotten) already written.
And I am 45. It’s not too late.
Amen!
This is very true. I’ve seen too many who try to be someone else that they admire only to fall on their faces because they find they are just not good at it. I’ve actually had some try to be who I am and do what I do, only to end up bypassing the real blessing of who they really are.
Knowing who you are seem to be easy… And yet, it is a neverending search 😊😙 Great post, Mitch. I particularly liked Thoreau’s quote, but whole post resonated with me 🌟 happy weekend
You too, Aquileana!
My daughter is 13 and, although a bright girl who is a good all-rounder, is struggling to find out who she is because she thinks she ought to excel at something (despite the fact that most of her classmates probably envy her ability to be good at everything). She is still young enough (and impressionable enough) to believe that worth comes from outside herself. Our identity, as I so often have to remind myself, is only found in Christ. That said, my laptop has been in the computer repair shop for weeks and weeks (and weeks!) and I have a great idea for a SF novel 😀 The plot is all there ready and waiting and it will be so much fun to write. I cannot write on this blinkin’ Kindle. First world problems, I know, but I CAN’T WAIT to get writing.
PS Grandma Moses?
I googled her. There is hope for my creative career yet!
Your daughter sounds like a delightful girl–with a great adventure ahead!
Man, I love your posts, especially this one! It was a reminder to keep trying to know myself and my purpose better…I needed that. Thank you.
Aw, thank you, Heather! Always delighted to hear when my writing has played a positive role, however small, in someone’s life.
Thanks for this. My main gig is being a pastor, but I recently re-kindled my passion for writing, recording and playing music live. I second guessed myself. I’m 60, and I wondered if I was fooling myself. Others second guessed me as well.
But as I have kept the music in its proper place, I have sensed God’s blessing.
I like Eric Liddell’s quote: I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.
Thanks for writing this, and may others be liberated to be the people God made them to be.
Amen, my writing, preaching musician friend!
I was a strong-willed child. My mother was a control freak. She used scripture, guilt, and shame to control me. By the time I entered 1st grade, I was a timid, emotional wreck with learning and social disabilities. All my life I pretended to be someone I was not because of my tremendous fear of rejection. With years of gut-wrenching determination and God’s help, I am whole today. I can finally look in the mirror and my mother no longer glares back at me. I thank God for loving me as I am!
Amen!
God is better than the best we know Him to be!
Nice to read. Gives me, once called a complete failure, hope.
Whoever that was should be summarily shot, April!
It was a brat, who may have grown-up by now.
Encouraging words.
Encouraging words
Thank you for using one of my most favorite quotes! I taught public school for 18 years in Title I schools in high crime areas. These disadvantaged and amazingly bright children were my calling. I had no idea that this would be one of my career directions. I taught at our church Day School while our children were young. I “happened” to be offered the job because a teacher resigned just before school started and I “happened” to know someone on the board. I now realize that it did not just “happen”…I was being led in the right direction. I “happened” to be listening! What a joyful opportunity! I changed to public schools when I was looking for another challenge! I learned to seek challenges!
Thanks for sharing a bit of your story. Rock on, Patricia!
Sometimes our unique greatness scares us and we tend to find comfort in hiding in the shadow of some other well-known person. What is in us is greater than what is outside of us.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
I have wanted to do and be so many different things. The enemy of our life has interfered in every one of those dreams. However, I am able to say that I am a terrific wife (just ask my hubby – lol), a loving daughter, mother and grandmother. So – not doing too badly I guess. 🙂
Not to bad at all! ;>)
I’m just now getting to read this as the retail hectic is settling for me and this is so beautiful. It’s a wonderful reminder and your words have put a big smile onto my face. Thank you.
So glad to hear that, Rhapsody. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Mitch. 😉
Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.