that thing you do. . . .

i have this title on my home page which asks “who am i”.  on my description i have a line that says, “beyond these three i am still a man searching for who i am”.  i’ve been having this slow revelation, if it’s even possible to have a revelation slowly, about who i am and what my purpose is.  now i have heard all my life what my purpose is, in fact i wrote a reflection in the M.I.P. (ministerial internship program) titled My Porpoise.  (yeah it says porpoise).  but just this week it seems to be sinking in. 

my job, my old truck, my motorcycle, watching football, being married to the greatest wife on earth, raising 2 precious children, all these things are not my purpose. they are tools to help me succeed in fulfilling my purpose.   my purpose is to KNOW God and to help others KNOW God.

i work as an executive pastor.  i start the connection process for all attendees to our church. that is being purposeful on my job.  i drive an old truck.  because of this,  i’ve needed parts or have given parts away.  an open door to connect with people outside of my usual circle.  i like to go to small car shows from time to time.  the truck is not show quality but these times are opportunities to meet people and develop a relationship with them that may lead them to Christ.  the motorcycle has been a way to connect on an intimate level with a few friends and fellow servants of the Lord.  we encourage one another and take time to relax and re-focus on our purpose.  football, ok, this still needs work.  but my love of football has helped me to connect with people on a different level than  i could have connected with them otherwise.  it’s also helped build friendships, that i prize, with some of the elders i work with.  my wife, wow! she is my rock. she helps me make right decisions and keeps me moving down the right path, even when i don’t want to.  i couldn’t fulfill my purpose without her.  my kids, are my personal disciples.  they are there to train and to train me. 

the point is this, whether or not i get to see the ballgame,  whether or not i have the prettiest truck, whether or not i embarrass  my friends with how poorly i ride a motorcycle, is not important.  whether or not i use that time to bring myself and those around me closer to God is important.  it’s not the things we do but the things we do with the things we do that counts.  that about sums it up.  you think?