{"id":396,"date":"2010-06-15T05:21:10","date_gmt":"2010-06-15T10:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thespicytexan.com\/travel\/?p=396"},"modified":"2014-01-04T07:25:15","modified_gmt":"2014-01-04T13:25:15","slug":"re-discovering-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thespicytexan.com\/travel\/re-discovering-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-Discovering Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before I came here I felt so tired, so drawn out and pulled into different directions. \u00a0 I felt purposeless. \u00a0 I was being challenged spiritually and attacked spiritually from every angle the enemy could manage to find. \u00a0 I began to share with people my challenges because I was hoping I could get some clear direction, some compassion, some advice and love. \u00a0In sharing those challenges which were really more than most minds can take, I got what appeared to be violent opposition and I saw others turn their backs on my pain because it was too difficult for them to endure. \u00a0I was so shocked at the reactions when I reached out for comfort. \u00a0People reacted in a way I couldn’t imagine. \u00a0I can say that the last two months were nearly the hardest in my life as I prepared for this trip. \u00a0I didn’t even share with others the attacks that myself and my family endured. \u00a0 Only a few know some of it. \u00a0 None of it matters now, as it wasn’t the truth or the life for my self, my organization and my family. \u00a0I know now that I had to endure that to say the words I have been given below this morning as I meditated and had a day of rest here in lovely Kampala.<\/p>\n

I’ve always been perplexed at the American way of saying Hello, “How are you?” \u00a0They really don’t want to know if you truthfully answer. \u00a0 It is a superficial greeting that we as Americans don’t generally mean. \u00a0Why must we be seen as a “Debbie Downer” if we try to answer this question? \u00a0 Maybe we should be more open? \u00a0Maybe we should not even use this greeting if we aren’t ready to receive? \u00a0I was made aware of this in my years of working with foreigners from all nations. \u00a0I really want to either become more sincere with this greeting in a way that invites people to share their troubles or needs, and I be emotionally available or eliminate it altogether in my life. \u00a0I used this greeting once here, and never again. \u00a0 I said “Good morning how are you?” to my new dear friend former abducted child soldier of the LRA. \u00a0He put his head down. \u00a0 My driver said Richard doesn’t know how to answer this as he is worried on how to feed all his children in the orphanage and how they will manage without education or medicine and many other problems. \u00a0I never asked again. \u00a0 Richard had found his purpose, the thing that makes him happy but also, makes him cry and uncomfortable. I disrespected that. \u00a0I felt awful. These are the things that well up inside of him every evening. \u00a0 He has dozens of people depending on him carrying out the purpose God has called this young man to. \u00a0And he is faithful, trusting, and has such integrity in the face of poverty. \u00a0Richard has moved out of survival mode into a Christ-like father figure to many. \u00a0 He has been called to help the orphans, and he has arisen from his pit of hell that the war ravaged on his young spirit. \u00a0I will tell his story later in my blog, but I really must prepare myself emotionally for that time.<\/p>\n

Coming here has stripped away my world as I know it. \u00a0I’ve had a chance to calm my mind, take away the working world for but a moment, to rest, to regenerate, to focus and to rediscover my purpose. \u00a0I felt the words today flowing out and had a vision of purpose for every person reading my blog. \u00a0 I want you all to know purpose in your lives, it doesn’t have to involve your dedication even to a social cause! \u00a0 Each of us have a different purpose! \u00a0God ordained this for us! \u00a0I remember reading “A Purpose Driven Life”<\/a> and loving it. \u00a0 I think I’ll make time and re-read that when coming home.<\/p>\n

What God showed me today on the faces of these people here is that survival is not purpose. \u00a0 Aren’t most of the people you know just surviving? \u00a0Maybe it isn’t in the War-Torn extremes of Northern Uganda starvation survival but think about our lives and how\u00a0monotonous\u00a0we have let them\u00a0become. \u00a0I want to help people discover their purposes here and everywhere. I see the good men of God here teaching others how to be a help in their\u00a0community\u00a0not how to get help from their community. \u00a0They very much dislike the handout approach although it is necessary to get communities on their feet at times, but then how to move forward? \u00a0 You must teach people how to have purpose and how to make themselves rise above the poverty and survival mode. \u00a0This is difficult here. \u00a0 In a land of plenty of America, we struggle even more to find our purpose.<\/p>\n

I’m rediscovering my passion, my love, what I would love to do the rest of my life in this world regardless of payment. \u00a0Purpose is not your long term goals. \u00a0I think people really may not understand purpose. \u00a0 I see so many people living out their lives without ever discovering , and not even really knowing how to begin to work on themselves to find purpose, drones to their insulated world. \u00a0Everyone can have purpose, everyone can find it.<\/p>\n

We all ask ourselves numerous questions and I think we all really struggle to answer those difficult questions about what drives us as a spiritual, emotional and\u00a0intellectual\u00a0being. \u00a0We have so much emotional baggage to unpack. \u00a0We live in such a low awareness standard of living. \u00a0The great thing is that we don’t have to haul that around on our backs, God can take that from us with a few obedient measures and clear direction.<\/p>\n

To find purpose we must really cast off selfishness. \u00a0 It is a driving force in many families and companies and individual lives. \u00a0We need to begin to think of others first. \u00a0I know that the world sometimes embraces the self-love metaphysical theories that I cringe at “to thine own self be true” but if we are only thinking of ourselves, how can we find a purpose if it is turned back inwards and we haven’t grown in any direction? \u00a0We constantly think of ways to improve ourselves in ways that really aren’t even\u00a0necessary\u00a0or good, \u00a0just fulfilling our own\u00a0conceit\u00a0or narcissism. \u00a0We start teaching children from a young age to notice other’s emotions, to share, to think of what they have done that might have hurt others, to consider feelings and ask forgiveness. \u00a0Why do we not impose this on ourselves as adults? \u00a0Always be aware of your actions and how they might affect others. \u00a0Always be acutely aware. \u00a0Prevent yourself from taking things a step farther to avoid self-righteousness. \u00a0Selfishness is one of the most\u00a0debilitating actions you can impose on yourself.<\/p>\n

To find purpose we must live with complete integrity, and ask God’s forgiveness for those times that we do not manage this well. \u00a0It is so easy to compromise our own integrity! \u00a0If we live with integrity we will naturally begin to put others before ourselves. \u00a0We should expect then to naturally migrate to an altruistic life.<\/span><\/h1>\n

Develop trust. \u00a0 When you gain people’s trust you will automatically become less selfish. \u00a0 Suspecting someone of dishonestly or keeping ones own interests at heart will destroy any trust you manage to build. <\/span><\/p>\n

My motto is if you see a lie….fly. \u00a0 If you stay you pay. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Gain the trust of others. \u00a0Trust others but not to the point that you allow yourself to fall into the pit of being taken for granted or advantage of. <\/span><\/p>\n

We must live under the authority of God and our own set authorities, our superiors, our husbands, our family leaders, our elders, our pastors. \u00a0 \u00a0Without living under this authority you will open up the doors to disobedience and rebellion. \u00a0 I’ve read the scriptures and they came to me on this trip. \u00a0 It is so important to place yourself in this position when finding your purpose. \u00a0God cannot guide you without it.<\/p>\n

In every case except when the authority over us asks us to do something which is contrary to God\u2019s word.\u00a0\u00a0Even then we must not disobey in an arrogant and rebellious manner.\u00a0\u00a0Dan. 1:8-13; 3:13-18; 5:10<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Remain positive. \u00a0 No matter what situation I’ve learned one great lesson in Uganda. \u00a0 Always keep a positive note. \u00a0Always speak positively. \u00a0 The Ugandans even believe that if you speak about someone in a negative way, they will feel this in their spirit. \u00a0 I will often hear Ugandans say, “Oh soooo sorry!” and they mean it. \u00a0Their conversation is lively with positive thoughts and plans to find purpose.<\/p>\n

Don’t lose hope. \u00a0 One of the greatest lessons of HOPE I ever learned was the way hope is viewed Biblically. \u00a0Friends, hope is not wishful thinking! \u00a0 I know we always say “Oh I hope I can…” that is wishful thinking. \u00a0The Biblical meaning of hope is “confident expectation.” \u00a0 It takes a lot of faith to have hope my friends. \u00a0It takes a lot of trust to have hope too, and the positive thinking and prayerful way we go about our lives will make the Biblical Hope, happen. \u00a0 Purpose cannot happen without hope of this type.<\/p>\n

Faith that your purpose will be fulfilled in life is often difficult because we tend to be so impatient. \u00a0 With faith we can know it will come to pass and we can move on and not have to wait aimlessly or lose our hope.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 1:11 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Live your life without walking in fear. \u00a0 Fear binds so many of us, and we have God there to protect and love us. \u00a0Just take that walk out of fear of what ever is your stumbling block. \u00a0 Also do not impose your fear on others, if you decide to continue to walk in fear, please don’t talk in fear and place it in the hearts of others.<\/p>\n

I’m writing ideas out as things come into my head from my readings and my meditation over God’s word and I have no idea if any of this makes any sense to you. \u00a0I pray there is something here for you to grasp onto.<\/p>\n

Purpose is what keeps us going, it keeps us alive and willing to endure. \u00a0 Do not give up discovering your purpose. \u00a0 God gives us this purpose. \u00a0I don’t ever want to force my beliefs on others, but I’m not ashamed of what I believe in, so I always want to share. \u00a0I am no evangelist by any stretch of the imagination, but I want to share in love, and in the love that God has put into my heart for others.<\/p>\n

I discovered once an exercise that I found changed my life. \u00a0 I hope you will try it after reading this and see what you can come up with for the purpose of your own life:<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Take out a blank sheet of paper<\/li>\n
  2. Write at the top, \u201cWhat is my true purpose in life?\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Write an answer (any answer) that pops into your head. It doesn\u2019t have to be a complete sentence. A short phrase is fine.<\/li>\n
  4. Repeat step 3 until you write the answer that makes you cry. This is your purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As I concluded the last word here, a loud clap of thunder arose over the guest house and the sweet smell of cleansing rain filled my room. \u00a0 The rain…the glorious rain, pouring as hard from my face as from the sky. \u00a0 The rain to clean the streets, to grow the crops, to cool the air, to quench the thirst, \u00a0to wash the dust off of everything, to purge the dirtiness and\u00a0rejuvenate\u00a0the joy that I know surrounds me here in the Pearl of Africa.<\/p>\n

    God bless you in every facet of your life. \u00a0May your true purpose rain down on you. \u00a0 \u00a0There is nothing like knowing, being\u00a0cleansed\u00a0by it and living it out.<\/p>\n

    If you want to know more please read the entire chapter of Ephesians 1 in the Bible.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    From Kampala,<\/p>\n

    Lori<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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