Ready – Fire! – Aim (Part 3: The Present)

Imagine you’re walking down abandoned railroad tracks. As the tracks wind around a bend there’s a tunnel up ahead. Since the tunnel is abandoned, you decide to walk through it. Off in the distance at the other end you see a tiny pinpoint of light.

Here’s a question: “As you begin your journey, where in the tunnel is the light the brightest?” Stop and think about it before reading the next paragraph.

The light is brightest behind you. Out ahead is nothing but darkness. The only illumination up ahead is a small sliver of light at the exit.

The tunnel is an analogy for your journey in coming to understanding your calling. The best way to understand your present is to look at your past. The “light” behind you in the tunnel represents your awareness of God’s work in your life to this point.

As you look at your life story, where do you see the fingerprints of God? Which experiences – good and bad – may point toward God’s plans for your life? God had a purpose for every experience of your life. He has been preparing you for your calling – your unique assignment in serving others.

Out of his past my friend Paul recognized that his calling was leadership development. Throughout his life God had blessed Paul with multiple opportunities to be mentored by mature Christian leaders. These experiences awakened within him a “desire of the heart” to equip younger Christian leaders to lead well. Since he had experienced leadership development, he wanted the next generation of leaders to experience it too.

My friend Patti went through two divorces. These experiences were painful, even devastating, for Patti. Friends urged her to attend the divorce recovery ministry at her church. Although reluctant, in time Patti realized the program was helping her heal. She began to see that “there was life after divorce.” Moreover, she sensed a growing desire to help others who also were going through a divorce. Eventually Patti moved from “being served” to “serving others.” She’s now a table discussion leader in the divorce recovery ministry.

People often find their calling – their purpose in life – from either their “stars” or “scars.” Some, like Paul, have mountaintop experiences that they then want others to have, too. These people find their calling out of the “stars” of their life. They themselves benefited from some blessing in life and now want others to have the same experience. The Bible says, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Others, like Patti, connect with their calling through the “scars” of their life. They have gone through and recovered from a painful life experience. Now they want to help others who are going through similar experiences. The Bible says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

What about you? Which “stars” and “scars” exist in your life story? Do you sense a growing “desire of the heart” to serve others related to your experience? Ask God to guide you to see how He has prepared you through your life story to serve others.

© 2011 Designed to Serve®

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