There is an old Sioux tale that goes as follows:
The Creator gathered all of Creation and said: “I want to hide something from the humans until they are ready for it. It is the realization that they create their own reality.” The eagle said, “Give it to me, I will take it to the moon.” The Creator said, “No. One day they will go there and find it.” The salmon said, “I will bury it on the bottom of the ocean.” “No. They will go there too.” The buffalo said, “I will bury it on the Great Plains.” The Creator said, “They will cut into the skin of the Earth and find it even there.” Grandmother Mole, who lives in the breast of Mother Earth, and who has no physical eyes but sees with spiritual eyes, said, “Put it inside of them.” And the Creator said, “It is done”.
Dr. Myles Munroe said, “Your future is not ahead of you, it’s trapped within you.” Many times as we live our lives, going from high school, to college, to graduate school we are seeking to find our place in society. We are seeking what fields of study interest us and what career path will best suit our abilities, likes, and desired income. Although these factors can be great predictors of what we should do, our ultimate factor should be what God needs us to be so that we can best advance His purpose.
I have heard countless stories of people who achieved the highest levels of success in their respective fields only to find that their achievements do not fill their lives with joy. They still felt empty inside. I realize this may be difficult to hear or read, but true fulfillment doesn’t come solely from achievement and advancement. True fulfillment comes when we are best able to use our God-given talents and abilities to advance a righteous purpose. This means that the first place we need to look is not at a college course catalog but at the life course catalog written on each of our hearts.
The most important homework assignment we can ever engage in is researching ourselves. Who are you? What are the gifts and talents you have that others would be surprised to hear bring you joy? What skill, talent or ability do you have inside of you that you feel is being underutilized or unutilized? What would you like to do everyday if money was not a factor? What vision do you think about almost daily that is only hindered by your need to earn a living? If all of these questions are affirmatively answered in your line of work then by all means stay where you are but if not then it’s time to do some soul searching.
I’m not telling anyone to march into his or her boss’s office on Monday and quit. It is always prudent to have a plan of action. That being said, if what you are currently doing doesn’t line up with what’s inside of you – create a plan of action. In ancient Israel most boys took on the trade of their father. In Jesus’ case, his natural father was a carpenter. Jesus is even referred to as ‘the carpenter’s son’ (Matt. 13:55). However, even early on Jesus knew that line of work would not bring Him fulfillment or be in line with the completion of His purpose.
“So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’ And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ But they did not understand the statement, which He spoke to them”(Luke 2:45-50).
Do you ever feel misunderstood? Is your creative genius trapped in someone’s corporation? Whose business are you about on a daily basis? Is it your Father’s business or your employer’s business? Look inside of you and decide today to release the gift, vision or idea that’s been maturing within you for so many years.
What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. – Ralph Waldo Emerson