Faces on Faith: A sense of purpose
When I graduated from high school, I was lost. What I mean is that whenever I was asked what I wanted to do with my life, I would answer “play professional baseball.” Yes, that was my dream, but in college I discovered having a dream was not enough; I needed a sense of purpose. Most of us would agree that discovering and living out our sense of purpose is important. Studies have shown that those with a sense of purpose experience joy, resilience and hope. In other words, we become motivated to do whatever it takes to follow through on something that is bigger than ourselves. Finding our sense of purpose can be elusive and downright mysterious.
Contrary to when I entered college, when I enrolled in Seminary some nine years later, it was different. I had surrendered to following God’s path for me. That meant earning a master’s degree and becoming an ordained minister. But the credentials were secondary to living out what was driving me forward; namely, the love God had for me and others and sharing that love. During my first year of seminary, I met and became friends with Bill. Even though Bill was a great person during that first year, he struggled. Not so much academically, but in trying to discover his sense of purpose. He was lost and at the end of semester he was ready to give up. Then one day Bill shared that the doctors had found cancer in his liver. The next nine months were filled with extended periods of chemotherapy. Yet even though he suffered, it was during that time he found his sense of purpose. At his funeral service, professors, nurses and fellow students gave testimony to Bill’s faith and tenacity, and how during his darkest days he gave hope to others.
Many years ago, Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in California, wrote a book entitled “The Purpose-Driven Church.” Over the years, this book has been a tool for churches and secular organizations to find a corporate sense of purpose. People want to be a part of such organizations because their gifts are valued and used to make a difference in this world. So every once in awhile it is important for us to look inside ourselves and ask “why are we doing this?” If we are lost, a good place to start is reaching out to our Lord. Experiencing God’s love brings a deep sense of joy and hope not only for us but for the world around us.
The Rev. Larry L. Marshall is the pastor at the Captiva Chapel by the Sea.