Confused on Purpose

A Letter from Chip Brogden

Hey Dave,


I'm still answering emails from my last "why are you
here" message.

Responses ranged from the clear and simple to the confused and
foggy!

But I'm having a good time reading and replying to them.

I used to think that fulfilling my Purpose was something I had to
achieve.

Then I realized that Purpose isn't tied to accomplishment or
success.

Let me explain.

A young person will train many years to reach the Olympics.

If you ask them their Purpose, they'll say, "To win a gold
medal."

Let's suppose they train hard, compete in the Olympics, and win
that coveted gold medal.

With the achievement of their Purpose complete, you would think
they would be the happiest people in the world.

In fact, just the opposite happens.

They tied their purpose to achieving a goal, and they worked hard
every day to achieve that goal.

But now that they accomplished the goal, they no longer have a
Purpose.

And that leaves them asking, "Is this all there is?"

Goals are great, but Goals are not the same thing as Purpose.

Goals are about "what I want to do, and how."

Purpose is about "who I want to be, and why."

You and I can fall into a trap of False Purpose - thinking of our
Purpose in terms of what we can do, accomplish, achieve, or build.

So when we can't "do" what we think we're
supposed to "do" then we think missed our Purpose.

Sound familiar?

But what if your Purpose has nothing to do with accomplishment or
achievement?

What if your Purpose isn't reaching some Big Goal, but is
simply a state of mind and heart?

What if your Purpose is to "be"?

To be a lover and worshipper of God.

To be a lover of mankind.

To be a helper to others.

To be a voice of encouragement.

To be a disciple and student of Jesus.

What we are called to DO may change, but what we are called to BE
is pretty consistent.

At different times in its life, a tree may grow quickly, or slowly;
it will stand still, or bend with the wind; it will clothe itself
with leaves, or shed its leaves; it will change the color of its
leaves, or produce fruit.

But no matter what the tree DOES, its Purpose is "to be a
tree."

Be like the tree.

Different seasons require different actions.

So be flexible in your doing, but persistent in your being.

Don't tie your Purpose (and fulfillment) down to winning your
version of the "Gold Medal."

Have a "Heart of Gold" instead.

Instead of achieving to be happy, learn to happily achieve.

Because even when you have done all you can do, you will still be
who you are.



I am your brother,


Chip Brogden
http://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org