These words may seem out of place for one in search of a new career opportunity, but keep reading. I think you will find, as I am finding, that your next successful career move hinge on you unbecoming and becoming. The reality is that you must do the thing that is in you – that desire, that dream, that passion. But before you can even “do” that thing, you gotta just learn to “be.” For some of us the learning to “be” means learning to unbecome. I believe learning to be and do what you are can be an expression of your work. Why live in the agony of just earning a paycheck? Why torture yourself by doing work you don’t love or even enjoy? Why suffer the pangs of rebound work? If you don’t want to live in that goofy place anymore, then keep reading because your real dream and the real you are worth the pursuit.
This dream. This desire. This want. Yeah. It’s always been. That thing you can’t quite put your finger on. It was born in you. It was part of the package called you. You were created to be; so just…be. The same is so for me as it is for you. We were created for meaning and purpose. Our lives our more than just the sum of it’s parts. We are more than the work we rise to do. We are more than the wages we earn. We are more than the titles that define the actions in which we engage. We are more. But how many of us are walking in the dark, under a cloud unable to see the light peaking from the mountain? How many of just keep living in a state of eternal drudgery believing there’s nothing more? Take a moment today to stop. Cease and desist. Relax. Let your mind wander. Be a kid again. Take the time to know who you are and what you were really made for in this right-now-moment. I am on this journey now. This is what I know.
I am not my job. I am not a title. I am not hemmed in. I am not trapped. I am not worthless. I am not without hope. I am not insignificant. If whose things are not who I am, then who am I?
I am loved. I am a daughter of the King. I am a lover of God. I am cherished. I belong. I am beloved. I am forgiven. I am a singer, writer, and creative being. I will make no apology for being my God-created myself. I will not stifle the gift that is in me. It was birthed in me ages before I came to be. God had me in mind, gave me my skill set, gave me these vocal chords and words and percussive rhythms. They are mine because they are His. And God saw fit to give them to me. Who am I to deny the expression of who God is in me? So what is my choice? I will sing back to Him the song He has sung in me –written eloquently upon the lines of my heart. I’ll do it for the rest of my life. I won’t stop. I won’t give up. I will not shrink back. I will not be afraid. I will not be fearful. I will not cower. I will simply just be. He paid a heavy price for me, and He is worth it all. And at the end of the day, it’s not about me. What He has birthed in me in for His glory and His fame. Peter wrote these life-affirming words,
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:2-4, NIV)
Think about it for a few moments. God has given you everything you need to live life when you come to Christ. Don’t know Christ? All you have to do is believe, choose Him. You will find deeper, abundant life. You will find a forever love and matchless grace. You will have truth that will make you eternally free. Peter continued to encourage us by saying,
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11, NIV)
Are you willing to make the effort to know your calling, to know Whose you are, and what you were made to be? I believe you will find peace that passes human understanding. You will find deeper meaning. And you will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were created for good works. But more than any of these things, you will know you were made to just “be.” To be what? To be adopted into God’s family, to be a son of God, to be a daughter of God, to be His child, to be forgiven, set free, loved, to belong, and so much more. And in resting in the “be,” you’ll do what you are. It’s where I am at in this right-now-moment. It is an exciting journey.
What will be your declaration this year? What will you get back to being (not just doing) because of the grace of interruption? What will you be and then do this year that you’ve been saying you would do for years? What ancient song is haunting you? What melody is longing to catch your ear? Whatever it is, give voice to it. Whatever it is, pursue it. Whatever it is, find out what it is and why it is beating violently in your chest. It won’t be silent for long. It will rise above a whisper. It will become a lion’s roar. It is you. It was always who you were. Now you can be aware of it. It has always been you. And guess what? It’s okay to be the real you. You have permission to live your life, to be and live that holy passion you can no longer deny. Whatever it is, God gave it to you. For each of us it is different. The beauty of it all is we are each uniquely designed. When we are who we were made to be, the song becomes a glorious chorus and orchestra to the ears of the Maker of all things.
Hear this whisper… “permission to live your life is granted” because Christ is alive and when you come to know Him, He makes you fully alive. Now, go live by just…being! Let that being become what you do. It was always who you were.
References:
Verses retrieved January 22, 2013 from http://www.biblegateway.com/.
I often say, “85% of the process of having confidence of proper direction comes from looking inward first. The more you can know about yourself, the more confidence you can have in moving forward. Responding to only external circumstances leaves one very vulnerable. With that frame of reference any obstacle can send you in a new direction. It is only by knowing yourself thoroughly that you can then have the confidence in making proper life decisions.”
True that Patrick. No earthly being can tell you who are. Self awareness is so important to moving forward and being real and authentic. Tapping into one’s unique talents and abilities helps define so many other areas of life. Thanks for your comment.