Growing up, we all tend to have dreams that are bigger than our ability or even sometimes out of the realm of possibility. There is a difference between dreams and plans. For example, my five year old daughter often tells me that she is going to be a princess who lives in a castle. Many of the teens I have worked with over the years predict, “when I grow up I’m going to have a million dollars and live in a mansion.” Or maybe you’ve heard, “I’m going to be a pro basketball player” (and for some reason this dream seems most common among boys that are 5 feet tall and 140 pounds soaking wet). Dreams are interesting, but plans are intrinsic. Plans and a vision that align with your purpose are fundamental and foundational to your ultimate success.
What is purpose? Purpose is the original intent for something or, in our case, someone. At one time or another, most of us have sat on a chair as well as a toilet. Both support our weight and both are well designed to achieve their function. However, if you are visiting a friend and while sitting on their chair you attempt to use it as a toilet, it’s safe to say you probably won’t be invited back. Function is key in understanding how to maximize the purpose for something. Think about yourself. How do you function best? Are you good under pressure or do you fold? Are you good at public speaking or do you sweat uncontrollably, stumbling over your words? Are you more comfortable behind the scenes or leading the way? Do minor details cause you to lose sleep or are you able to focus on the big picture? Knowing how you function will help you flow more effectively in your purpose. It will also let you know who you need to surround yourself with to cover the areas where you are weak.
I recommend that you examine your life by asking a series of very important questions: Could I? Should I? Will I?
If you know that public speaking is not your strong suit then to say that you will give the keynote speech at an event is more than likely not going to happen. And it shouldn’t. Could you do it? Yes, you are physically capable of doing it? Should you do it? Probably not. Will you do it? That is a decision you need to make (hopefully after much counsel).
In life, there are many things you could do. Fewer things you should do. And even less things you will do. That is a good thing. Where many people get into trouble is when they attempt to do everything they could do. This problem is compounded when what they end up doing doesn’t line up with the few things they are supposed to do. Sometimes those ‘must-dos’ don’t even make the ‘to-do’ list. Many of us are busy. We are often getting pulled in many different directions. You have a job. You might also volunteer at your church. Additionally, you may be married with two kids. You might have a side job that is more in line with your passion. All of these things demand your time. They all demand your mental energy and your focus. But it’s difficult, sometimes even impossible, to be excellent at everything all at once.
Dr. Charles Garfield said, “
efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things. Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be counted counts.” Spending time with your young children at the park may not be quantifiable or produce income but it definitely counts. In a world where fatherlessness runs rampant and its effects are clearly visible, spending time with your children
counts. If everyone does the same ‘good deed’ of feeding a homeless man on a corner downtown those people may be ‘effective’ but probably not efficient. We should all be prayerful about how to use our gifts, talents and abilities to the do the right things the right way for the right reasons as God intended. What that looks like for each individual may differ. That is to say that the methods may vary but the collective result of our individual commitment to doing what we ‘should do’ will assure that society finally becomes what it could be.
The apostle
Paul wrote, “
If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:15-17, 26).
