Blog

Have you ever wondered why some professions are considered better than others? Naturally, a CEO has lots of responsibilities but so does the intern. If the CEO stops doing her job, the intern’s going to have difficulty completing his job, and if the intern stops doing his job, he causes difficulties for those above him. Everyone has a role to play.

We need each other.

1. Imagined Reality vs. True Reality

I grew up in the church, where my idols were missionaries and preachers. They threw everything aside and followed God into the muggiest of jungles, whether vined or steeled. Their lives were on-purpose. That’s what I wanted to be: an adventurer saving souls and loving people.

Missionaries and preachers were the celebrities of religion and lined up to inherit well in God’s kingdom.

I was going to be a missionary, travel the world and tell people all about Jesus.

2. Idolized Giftings vs. True Giftings and Skillz

And then, another dream pushed through. Perhaps God had another purpose in mind for me? But I ran away from the idea because it felt selfish (because I loved it) when I should be directly impacting lives for God by serving hands-on: hugging the orphans, feeding the hungry, spending hours with street people. Talk about heavy expectations for myself.

So I went to Austria (and I do believe that God directed me there). In Austria, I worked with books (books I couldn’t read) and graphic designers (creating gorgeous book covers that I still couldn’t read).

You can read a bit more here: OM EAST: Working and Living the Volunteer Life.

My writing happened in emails and occasional pamphlets. I had purpose, but there was hunger for something else. I wanted to use words more.

God worked a new understanding through me as I watched these books transform into culturally relevant materials to support the churches in so many countries. The words in these books would grow the spiritual lives of countless Christians and their churches, too.

Words do directly impact.

3. Me Connecting the Dots

How many of us have read a story or heard a fable or watched a movie that stirred something within us, either challenging us to rise up or inspiring us with the strength of humans (other than the Bible…that one’s a given)?

Every turning point of my life is bookmarked by a book.

[Tweet “Every turning point of my life is bookmarked by a book.”]

Princess Ben by Catherine Murdock began to instill a belief in myself to do hard things even if I’m a girl.

The Trailblazer Books by Bethany House Publishers ignited my love of the world and desire to travel and know other cultures.

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott taught me that it’s okay to feel deeply and parade my brokenness on the outside too (this traumatized loved ones, but it helped me in my journey).

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp awoke my desire to write lyrically and to become a published author. I carried it with me to my very first writers conference where I met Ann!

The Martian by Andy Weir challenged me to rise above physical and emotional circumstances that threatened to gut my passion for living.

Each of these stories are physically separate from my life, and yet, their words have woven into my life. I’ve lived each of their stories, and I’ve grown with them, too. I’ve been directly impacted by the books that I read.

Words heal.

Through this messed up game of connect the dots (aka life’s journey), I’ve realized that words are where its at for me. I see God in the words, and I share him through these words.

[Tweet “A messed up game of connect the dots (aka life’s journey)”]

4. What’s Your Reality vs. Expectations?

Did you think you had to be a certain thing when you grew up?

Does calling have anything to do with serving God?

Where are you most happy and skilled? Can that be worked into your salary somehow?

Are you thinking that another job or purpose has more worth than yours? Why?