We are each designed for a unique and divine purpose. Live yours!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Where Our Greatest Joy Meets The World's Greatest Need

Sometimes--often actually--when I offer assistance or advice or even just a listening ear, I find I am the one who comes away having been ministered to.

When I share ideas and dreams and opinions with others, my own mind is broadened and my opinions and attitudes are usually reshaped and enlarged. I think so many of us are afraid to give away any part of ourselves to another, fearing we will be diminished. I have found, and firmly believe, that it is in the giving of self to others that we are actually nourished, sustained, enhanced and empowered.

When we recognize that everthing is God's - from Him and for His purpose - it is easier and less risky to share what we have--our possessions, our wisdom and knowledge, our gifts and abilities. Yes, we may get hurt in the process. We may be misunderstood or taken advantage of. Worse . . . we may be thought a fool or considered naive! But in the end we have no choice, because nothing is ours to begin with!

The trick is to find our purpose and to release our sense of self-importance or significance beyond the One through whom and from whom we are significant. The trick is to find what theologian Frederick Buechner describes as vocation: "where our greatest joy meets the world's greatest need."

That's the sweetest place to be in the end. It is when I find myself there that I am the most joyful, peaceful, free. Where is that place for you, in your life?

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

4 comments:

Angela said...

amen Mary..this was an awesome post. I find the last two years while my husband was unemployed, the more I gave not only of myself, but through cooking a meal, or giving away clothes, or whatever the Lord would place upon my heart,,,I was SO nourished and fed, and strengthened by Him in ways I can't even begin to explain. Truly Ephesians 3:20..more than I could have ever asked or imagined. Listening to young moms with their problems (I run a home daycare), letting others know I was praying...giving of myself, brought the Lord's strength and joy upon my heart. Just today I wrapped my arms around a mom as she was talking and she just broke down in my arms. I ended up telling her I thought she was an awesome mom and that even though this time she was going through was the hardest, she would not be defeated but only become stronger through this and that everything would work out....My day ended up making me even more aware of our Father's presence in our lives...So thank you for this post...and thank you for the awesome sharpening. Proverbs 27:17

lioneagle said...

Hi Sherry -

I so agree with this!

And I loved the music with it...

Anonymous said...

This post is so timely. I truly believe that we often become the one who is ministered to when meetin the needs of others. And often, in that period of time of ministering to others, we appreciate the word of God even more because his word becomes "clearer" to us. Thank you again...Mary!

Connie Arnold said...

Thank you for the lovely post, Mary! Finding our purpose, living for God and helping others brings great joy and peace.