There hasn’t been much writing done by my hand in the past 5 months. And this sentence right here is normally where I would tell you I have been on a hiatus, or been struggling with my faith, or been distant from God for whatever reason, none of which are the reason for my writing absence. In fact, my absence has been busy. It has been a roller coaster. It has strengthened my faith in ways and challenged it in others. Most of all, it has made me realize that I am missing my purpose.
But wait! Before I get into the people purpose, I want you know that Katie is HEALED. I am talking a miraculous, divine, God-healing. Katie had surgery in January, and has since gained almost 20 pounds (she is now 108 lbs), graduated high school, started working, and has a completely unrestricted diet. I cannot put into words the awe, the joy, and the disbelief in watching the vomiting, the weight loss, and the sleepless nights of the past 5 years just disappeared. Overnight. And when I say overnight, I mean in 12 hours. Gone. Don’t tell me there isn’t a God that performs miracles. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Yes, she had a surgeon. No, it wasn’t a miracle like we are conditioned to think miracles should be (like magic or something). But it was miraculous to watch this surgeon come out and say, “She’s fixed. Better than we thought. I haven’t seen anything like that before. And I’ll never see anything like that again.” Unexplained. Divine. Miracle. And the little cherry on top that made us smirk? Her surgeon’s name was Dr. St. Peter. Yep, Peter. Like the apostle. I can’t deny the miracle we experienced, nor am I going to try to dilute it with some tangible explanation. It was simply, and profoundly, God’s hand at work.
Okay, back to the purpose. Of people.
I know, I know. In this day and age it is socially acceptable to like cats more than people, to seek emotional support from dogs instead of friends, and to chase our own ambitions instead of helping our peers with theirs. The drive has become selfish and success has become solitary. Our purpose is increasingly defined by our own achievements and we are losing sight of what it means to be humble. We are slowly eroding away the purpose we were made for, what God has intended for us, so that we can each obtain a fleeting, selfish glory that will sit on a shelf and collect dust. Just like a 3rd grade soccer trophy.
We have one purpose that is bigger than ourselves, and that is the purpose of living for others. Our people purpose. I am not talking about adopting children or mission trips to Africa. While both are noted to be noble causes, and they are needs that also need filled, there are great needs right under the noses of our daily lives. Do you think God places us where we are at the time He does just because He felt like it that day? Nah Jack. That’s not how He works.
Close your eyes, and think of a peer or coworker who may rub you the wrong way or drive you a little crazy. Got it? Now think of a peer or coworker who you really enjoy being around. Easier to think of the more pleasant person, isn’t it? Now think of both of those people at the same time, and while you think of them, picture our God loving them, doting on them both equally. God loves both of them so much (and God loves you so much) that He placed each of you in the same place at the same time for a bigger purpose. Why? Because in some way, you need one another. You have something to teach to them or you have something to learn from them. Our purpose is people. It isn’t the success of our own self that we are made for, but for the purpose of the people around us to see Jesus in us. Our identity isn’t our job. Our job is just a task, and yes, one that we must do to God’s glory because the people around us see how we complete those tasks, how we work under pressure, and how the seemingly impossible is made possible. Our identity is who we are in faith and who God says we are made to be. Our identity is what others see as we carryout our tasks, as we help others, as we portray kindness and love and grace and mercy. Our job is just one piece of the whole. It is a piece to our people purpose. When we live out our people purpose, life becomes less about us and our finite success and more about the eternal success of those around us.
We are made to do life with people. As messy and frustrating as it gets, it is our purpose. The purpose God has set before us carries over into our schools, our jobs, our friendships, all of it. And I don’t mean like a holy thumping for non believers. No, no. I mean serving one another in love, speaking truth in love, being patient in love, and giving up of self in love. I think about the people I work with. Some of them are oh-so-easy to love and others take quite a bit of effort. And each day I fail in loving someone the way I should. Each day I fail at losing sight of my true purpose for my own selfish success. And each day I tell myself I will do better the next. But you know what? I may be that someone that is difficult to love for one of my coworkers. None of us are immune to being disliked or imperfect or annoying. I know I certainly am not. And I am definitely not immune to being a selfish, self centered go-getter. I want what I want when I want it. But when I look at the bigger picture, when I think about what makes each day brighter and more fulfilling, it is undoubtedly the people in it.
Proverbs 19:21-22 says, Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love… We can make our plans, set our goals, but if we are not allowing the Lord to determine our steps, and if we are not living for the purpose of loving others, we are wasting our life. We are wasting our purpose.
What I have learning in my writing hiatus is that life is not about what it can give to my achievements and success, but it is about what I can give of myself to those around me, regardless of the setting. Love the ones around you.
That is your purpose. The people purpose.
feed yourself, girl 