There are two quotes that I’ve found very helpful over the years whenever I think about purpose and calling. The first is a quote from Frederick Buechner.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” —Frederick Buechner
Think about that intersection.
“Your deep gladness”
Something that captures your heart, ignites your passion, fuels your energy, challenges your faith, and gives you joy.
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“…the world’s deep hunger…”
A need you simply can’t ignore. A burden you can’t quite shake.
An issue that won’t let you go.
According to Buechner, this may be the sweet spot or intersection that brings you to your destiny.
Have you taken time to consider that intersection?
John Maxwell writes that answering three questions will point you in the direction of discovering your calling, purpose, and passion in life.
Question #1: What makes you CRY?
In other words, what breaks your heart? What disturbs you? What moves you? What bothers, burdens, or bores you? What creates such a heartache in you that you are motivated to take action?
Question #2: What makes you SING?
What makes you happy? What puts a bounce in your step? What causes your heart to beat fast? What pumps you up? What gets you excited? What keeps you up late at night? What wakes you up early in the morning? What fuels and energizes you? What gives you joy?
Question #3: What do you DREAM about?
In other words, if you could accomplish anything in the world to make a difference in the life of someone else, what would it be?
If you could do anything you wanted and knew you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?
If money wasn’t an issue, what would occupy your time and energy?
If you could live out your wildest dreams, what would that look like?
The second quote is from an American author, theologian and educator named Howard Thurman who wrote:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
―Howard Thurman
So, what makes you come alive?
The early church father, Irenaeus once wrote: “The glory of God is [a human being] fully alive…”
A proverb I’ve been meditating on for the past few weeks appears in Proverbs 20:24. The Passion Translation of this passage has gripped me. Brian Simmons translates it as follows:
“It is the Lord who directs your life, for each step you take is ordained by God to bring you closer to your destiny. So much of your life, then, remains a mystery!”
—Proverbs 20:24 TPT
What makes you come alive?
Where does “your deep gladness” intersect with “the world’s deep hunger?”
Remember, your passion, hopes, dreams, burdens, interests, personality, temperament, and heart are not an accident.
It’s time for you to come alive!
It’s time for you to introduce “your deep gladness” to “the world’s deep hunger”
and see what happens.
God has directed your life to this very moment.
Every step has been bringing you closer and closer to your destiny.
This is the intersection where opportunity collides with destiny.