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Messages of Hope and Change
Do You Have A Calling?
Here’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about over the years. Do we personally have a calling? Is there something for us to do in this life that only we can do. Are there talents and gifts to share with others that only we can share. Has God given us a calling?
Seth Godin recently shared on his blog that he doesn’t believe in callings, only caring. Caring about something worth doing. “A calling,” he states, “implies that there’s just one thing for you, just one thing you’re supposed to do.” Now the phrase “supposed to do”, can be a real turn off, if you like autonomy from having to do something you really don’t want to do. I believe God has a work for us if we choose to do it. And that we will find it a joy to do. God deeply wants us to find joy in our life and work. True story.
Plan of Happiness
Foreordination
Rather than a single lifelong calling, I believe in the principle of foreordination. It’s best described by this article. “In the premortal spirit world, God appointed certain spirits to fulfill specific missions during their mortal lives. This is called foreordination. Foreordination does not guarantee that individuals will receive certain callings or responsibilities. Such opportunities come in this life as a result of the righteous exercise of agency, just as foreordination came as a result of righteousness in the premortal existence.”
Notice it’s not just one calling, but specific missions. There can be multiple opportunities to serve and find joy in work, home life, and every other area of our life. That’s exciting to me. Instead of trying to figure out that one thing I can do or be to fulfill my calling, my view is expanded to multiple callings or missions.
For example, being a parent is a calling. For us, our work with Life of Clarity is also a calling. Other organizations, churches, and community work have been and continue to be a part of our callings.
I believe that there are missions for us throughout our lives. When we care, when we truly enjoy and love what we do, and who we serve, we will reach a higher level of joy and fulfillment.
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How Minimalism Disrupted who I AM
We were living in a 2000 square foot house. I was a busy stay at home mom of four kids under 8 and I was homeschooling, had a community service role in my church, and had a home-based business with my husband. And I was the worst. housekeeper. ever. My home was a cacophony of kid’s clothes, toys, papers, blankets, books, dishes, projects, hobby stuff, art supplies, and the shoes! So many shoes! How can a family of six have so many pairs of shoes?! It seemed like no matter what I did, the floors never stayed clear. Any empty surface was filled until there was no space. If anyone came over unannounced, I was mortified. And if anyone let me know ahead of time that they were coming over, I ran around the house in a frenzy and cleaned the best I could, and when they arrived, I was mortified. No matter what, I was always uncomfortably aware of how cluttered and imperfect my house (and I) was. I could never get on top of it. For years I agaonized over why I could never seem to have a peaceful, clean house. “I AM” statements began to form. Do you realize how powerful the phrase I AM is? It creates us. Or the “us” we think we are. I AM forms the bounds and limits that we place on ourselves. My I AM beliefs started out harmless enough: I AM a really busy person. Too busy to really be able to focus on the housework. I AM a creative type of person. Don’t all creative types thrive in...3 Lessons from the Shadow Zone
I was sitting in the library with a tear stained piece of paper. I needed to process the emotions that were being released as I went through the many boxes in my basement. Just a few weeks earlier I had felt the gentle direction to release much of what I owned and to create more space in my surroundings and my life. My husband had mentioned the same direction he had gotten, and I was excited that we were on the same page. So, we began purging. At first it was exciting. Four spatulas? Why does anyone need four spatulas? Three of them went into the thrift store pile. Clothing items that were torn, ugly, outgrown and outdated? I never wore them anyway. Into the pile. We took bags and bags to the thrift store. Everyday we worked on our own stuff. It was freeing. It was liberating. And then I started working on the basement. Our basement was about 500 square feet of storage. Piles of boxes up to our chest or higher, unfinished projects, unused furniture, family heirlooms, personal heirlooms, christmas deco, life jackets, food storage, baby stuff, a big old wardrobe full of art supplies, canning stuff, easter baskets… so much stuff! You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you? You too have a Shadow Zone, whether the garage or basement or shed or spare bedroom, it’s that zone we store everything we don’t want to deal with. The place that nobody is allowed to go because it’s embarrassing and overwhelming and it’s just easier to keep the door closed and pretend it’s not there. Some of us move from house...Do You Have A Calling?
Here’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about over the years. Do we personally have a calling? Is there something for us to do in this life that only we can do. Are there talents and gifts to share with others that only we can share. Has God given us a calling? Seth Godin recently shared on his blog that he doesn’t believe in callings, only caring. Caring about something worth doing. “A calling,” he states, “implies that there’s just one thing for you, just one thing you’re supposed to do.” Now the phrase “supposed to do”, can be a real turn off, if you like autonomy from having to do something you really don’t want to do. I believe God has a work for us if we choose to do it. And that we will find it a joy to do. God deeply wants us to find joy in our life and work. True story. Plan of Happiness Foreordination Rather than a single lifelong calling, I believe in the principle of foreordination. It’s best described by this article. “In the premortal spirit world, God appointed certain spirits to fulfill specific missions during their mortal lives. This is called foreordination. Foreordination does not guarantee that individuals will receive certain callings or responsibilities. Such opportunities come in this life as a result of the righteous exercise of agency, just as foreordination came as a result of righteousness in the premortal existence.” Notice it’s not just one calling, but specific missions. There can be multiple opportunities to serve and find joy in work, home life, and every other area of our...Meditation on Time
Looking at the stars, I was reminded of the One who created the universe. What is “time” to God?
The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Only from a solid foundation of truth and light will we be prepared to live with less, so we can do more of what really matters.