Since graduating from Regent University more than two years ago, I haven’t pursued any sort of career path or opportunities to mature my Christian faith. I’ve aimlessly wandered from one thing to another not finding anything I really want to pursue. I don’t have a church community or an outlet to put my faith into practical action and faith not put into action quickly begins to grow stale and die. Directionless, you can start to develop bad habits and bad attitudes. I’ve noticed that I’ve started spending hours watching television or on Facebook and Instagram scrolling non-stop. My motivation is gone, and I am going to have to fight for it. My attitude has grown somewhat cynical and negative. Again, I’m going to have to fight for the positive and happy attitude I had as a child.
I’m not one to wallow for long and I’ve tried to find something God wishes to teach me from this situation. What I found, what came to mind, was the power and importance of purpose. My lack of motivation and all my aimless wandering, my bad habits and bad attitudes, all of it stems from lack of purpose. When I was in college, I had purpose, I was serving God in my own way by training my mind for ministry. During this time, I was happy and motivated even when a 6000-word essay was due the following day and I had procrastinated all week. The stress I had to endure didn’t matter because it was in the name of something higher which infused it with meaning. You can endure large degrees of suffering when you know there’s meaning behind it.
When I left Regent, I forgot to cultivate my purpose and I slid into depression. I knew I was meant to do something related to the ministry, but I never took the opportunity to find my place and did not know how to anyway. I let it go and never came back to it. Eventually, my faith went the same way. I never found a church to be a part of in my adulthood and without the edification of a Christian community faith can be lost. Without this edification, I’ve grown lax in prayer and study which have never been done out of legalistic duty but now seem to be.
Don’t go the road I’ve been going down because it’s hard to turn yourself around and get back on track. So, cultivate purpose in your life and do it consistently until it becomes habit. Where the world’s greatest need and your greatest passion overlaps is where your purpose lies. When you find that thing, don’t let go of it because it creates meaning and meaning is the lifeblood of the human race. This is seen in the fact that everything we do as humans is framed in narrative—narratives with meaningful conclusions. We write purposeful stories for our history, our religion, our personal lives. Find your story and continue to write it and write it well.
Well said Michael! I’ve found the same in retirement that having a purpose is critical to happiness, health and wellbeing.
So well said, Michael. You understand what has happened along the way and now you need to heed your own advice. Find your meaning and your purpose and start moving forward with a plan. Now is the time. Find a church, we have been loving Christ Church and Hope Church, but there are other great ones! Find a Bible Study. I know your dad goes to one and would be happy to take you. You are right we are not meant to do Christian life alone. We need fellow believers to be with in community. I know you’ve got it in you! LET’S GO! I believe in you.
Michael-you are on to something. Purpose and faith can be linked together. With your strong beliefs and iron will, once you understand your purpose, this is a powerful combination.
Michael-you are on to something. Purpose and faith can be linked together. With your strong beliefs and iron will, once you understand your purpose, this is a powerful combination.
I love the way you write.
Why not write a book?
Getting your degree was an enormous project.
Writing a book is just as big if not bigger.
I have been working on an optimistic book about the USA, my wife says since she first met me 64 years ago.
Sadly, I am yet to finish it.
Yet, I’ve come to love my book.
My writing and thinking skills have grown.
And I recently an editor/coach for the first time.
My goal is to self publish by next year.
You are absolutely right about the benefits of finding meaning and purpose.
I don’t know you well enough to suggest potential subjects.
Consider coming up with a list of 10 potential subjects, by the new year, including but not confined to religion.
Consider the relationships that have sustained you, and market the concept of them to Americans. Self-help.
I’m a history guy.
The version of human history I follow is around 300,000 years long, so far.
Find a reality in our species history that interests you, then develop expertise.
Tell a story about our origins and future that connects to the Earthlife’s essences.
The integrity, intelligence, and passion that is evident in your writing will emerge as a successful book.
Michael – I’ve read and heard the wisdom multiple times that “you never know who will hear your words and it will be exactly what they needed at that moment.” Today was that moment for me and I wanted to thank you…I too am wandering somewhat aimlessly in the abyss of no community of faith and have found my own lacking and not nurtured. Thank you for helping me see that by sharing your own journey and struggles…maybe today that was your purpose! Love you and miss you and your family!