Times of transition and upheaval provide the greatest opportunity for vision and change. When I first came to Florida with my whole life falling apart, my aunt signed me up to attend a workshop on finding your purpose and passion. I went with no clear idea of what I was going to do or even what I was getting myself into. I came away with a mission statement and a dream of what I want to do with my life.
But survival dictated that I set everything aside and focus on finding a place to live, getting a job, putting the kids in school, etc. So I set that on the back burner, pulling it out from time to time in conversations with people or when I would get frustrated with my current work.
The dream continues to build and expand, taking clearer shape and focus. I've become more aware of the need to write this out in a vision statement. That can be daunting because there is something very powerful about writing down what you really want and describing what it looks like. It can make you even more dissatisfied with what is. It can also be hard to live in the in-between place of not yet.
Yet the act of writing a mission and vision statement can become like a prayer and opens up the heart to believe that God will give what I truly long for. Looking at Jesus and the way He interacted with people, time after time, He asked them, "What do you want?" I believe He still asks and waits for us to be specific and fully aware of our heart's desire, trusting in His goodness and love to make it our reality.
2 comments:
That is something I have not ever done in written form. I know when I was in nursing school and crying out to God for His way to handle the pain I come into contact with, He gave me a verse which I took as my vision or purpose.
I wondered about it later when I left nursing because I had babies and for awhile my life just looked like one baby after another - mine and others who I cared for. For some reason, in my blindness, I assumed that would be my life, and I was reasonably happy with it.
But my babies grew. Faster than I wanted them to. Now they are big kids. They need me, yes, but not in the same way.
God led, is leading?, me into a new direction. Not one I suspected, not one I am even sure I am good at. And the verse that is often told me in this new direction, surprise - is the same God told me 15 years ago. The same vision; just a different outworking of it.
And now - now, I am in this limbo land. I don't know what God will be doing. It is unsettling. It has not taken away the desire in my heart for what God called me to do, only strengthened it. But I feel... useless... disqualified.
Hey, Ang, love your mission statement...I think mine still revolves mainly around my family...but, I am finding a desire to reach out to other women as well and share with them in life.
I went to a daylong preview this last summer of a new study out from the Navigators called The Significant Woman. It's really good and they walk you through all kinds of worksheets to find out your interests, talents, gifts, etc. and then at the end you fill out a sheet and there you have a vision/mission statement! It's really awesome.
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