Having a purpose in life is essential. It motivates you to live life: work the 9 to 5, strive in school, excel at home, and serve the Cross. The purpose is something taken for granted until it’s lost.
My career was my purpose. Rising the ranks, striving for success, and working the work brought happiness. It helped me connect with the other pieces in my life: a loving husband, a faithful Christian, and so on.
Due to my battle with epilepsy and cognitive disabilities, I was forced into early retirement. All of a sudden, I found that my purpose had evaporated. Wait a sec? Striving for a relationship with God should be your purpose. Loving and serving your wife should be your purpose. Yes, they should. But they aren’t my defining purpose. Living your purpose for God’s will is something that comes easy to some, but I haven’t achieved that yet.
Now, I find myself spending more time trying to figure out my purpose. The Lord has blessed me—that’s something I don’t doubt. I have a loving wife, a place with God in eternity, and a platform to share my heart and love for God.
So, what have I learned since my retirement? I learned not to take purpose for granted. I realized how much I value the Father and Christian music—both of which give me solace. Ecclesiastes 3:1 best describes my life circumstances in my current season. And “Take It All Back” by contemporary Christian artist Tauren Wells encourages me to keep moving. I’ll keep you updated on finding my purpose. Value your purpose because you never know when you might lose it.
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Paul E. Phillips is a Canadian journalist with 20 years of experience writing and editing digital and print content. He specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, and travel. He loves music, movies, and, of course, living for Jesus.
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