This is one of my favorite videos from last summer. I had just accepted a commission for a Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), and set out on this adventure up the South Fork of the Walla Walla River to sketch them in situ (e.g. “in its natural or original position or place, localized and undisturbed” as scientific illustrator types say)….
And I fell headlong into Purpose.
The Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and describes how God has a purpose and a plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, and Psalm 37:23-24). We are made in His image, unique and beautiful in design, with amazing diversity of gifts and talents (1 Corinthians 12:12-26).
And on this sunny, summer day in September, I fell head over teakettle into mine. All my strengths, talents, and passions coalesced into this shining afternoon of ‘rightness’ in the world.
I had found IT.
The Japanese have a concept called “Ikigai,” where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what can be paid for come together into a culmination of your passion, mission, profession, and vocation.
I believe that’s just another way to describe the pinnacle of life in Christ. We spend our lives searching for it (I have spent nearly 39 years searching for mine!), yearning for it, listening to others tell us what it should be, and it’s in Him. In doing what He built us to do. In surrendering what the world tells us is important or necessary or what we should do, and doing that which He breathed into us.
For me, it’s crawling through underbrush with my pocket microscope and my bag of art supplies, to document beauty and wonder, which I then present to my community.
For you, it may be baking food to feed the hungry. Or finding information for those who seek it. Or something similar, or wildly different.
My encouragement is, you’ll find it in Jesus. He is the master craftsman, He has the blueprints. If you’re stuck, if you’re despondent, if you feel at a loss to even begin unpacking your purpose, ask Him. Let go of all the reasons why you shouldn’t, all the reasons others told you that you can’t, and ask Him.
The world needs more of us who are on fire with passion and purpose and mission.
Come alive.
Come out of the tomb, Lazarus.