At block parties and birthday parties, one of my favorite things to observe is the delight that the bounce houses, dual-lane water slide combos, and additional amenities like cotton candy and popcorn give people.
I love this: “I want us to have the support that—when we fall out of sight, and our dreams fizzle—prevents our shattering. I want our confidence to stand when our current life circumstances threaten to confound our purpose.” Purpose is tough to glean, especially when we’re ground down by the wheels of capitalism. It’s a spiritual discipline to untether worth from income or conventional power. I hear you, brother.
Capitalism, indeed. Phew. Thankful for you, big sis. Untethering worth from conventional power is like a daily discipline like moisturizing, you hear?! Cuz after days (aight, weeks sometimes 💀) i come out looking rough when I’m forgetting the truth behind the chaos of this country and my self-care routines. 😂
When I was a couple years older than you are now, and I was in London as a missionary and working with refugees, I thought I was Doing the Thing. Then I read a book (don't remember either the book or the author!) in which the author pointed out that many of the people in the Bible never got to their "purpose" until much later in life. I remember David and Moses being cited as examples.
I was very put out by this observation. Then God allowed me to be essentially taken out of commission for 3-10 years (depending on various ways of breaking it down) and I thought I'd never fulfill my purpose. Now I just think the book writer was right. Everything we live through has a "purpose" as we are formed to be more like the us-version of Jesus God always intended...and OUR purpose is to become more and more like Him. I no longer feel sad or frustrated that my ministry in my 20's was largely fruitless and my ministry now seems to be a little more life-giving. Jesus was there the whole time, and as I follow, so does purpose. But you're right--very rarely is it the heady elevation of a bounce house.
I love this: “I want us to have the support that—when we fall out of sight, and our dreams fizzle—prevents our shattering. I want our confidence to stand when our current life circumstances threaten to confound our purpose.” Purpose is tough to glean, especially when we’re ground down by the wheels of capitalism. It’s a spiritual discipline to untether worth from income or conventional power. I hear you, brother.
Capitalism, indeed. Phew. Thankful for you, big sis. Untethering worth from conventional power is like a daily discipline like moisturizing, you hear?! Cuz after days (aight, weeks sometimes 💀) i come out looking rough when I’m forgetting the truth behind the chaos of this country and my self-care routines. 😂
Ok, this last comment I wrote makes absolutely zero sense, but imma leave it here for humility purposes 💀💀💀💀
What?!? This does make sense! You leave my little bro alone.
When I was a couple years older than you are now, and I was in London as a missionary and working with refugees, I thought I was Doing the Thing. Then I read a book (don't remember either the book or the author!) in which the author pointed out that many of the people in the Bible never got to their "purpose" until much later in life. I remember David and Moses being cited as examples.
I was very put out by this observation. Then God allowed me to be essentially taken out of commission for 3-10 years (depending on various ways of breaking it down) and I thought I'd never fulfill my purpose. Now I just think the book writer was right. Everything we live through has a "purpose" as we are formed to be more like the us-version of Jesus God always intended...and OUR purpose is to become more and more like Him. I no longer feel sad or frustrated that my ministry in my 20's was largely fruitless and my ministry now seems to be a little more life-giving. Jesus was there the whole time, and as I follow, so does purpose. But you're right--very rarely is it the heady elevation of a bounce house.
So so good. Thank you for sharing and commenting these words. They spoke to me deeply 🙏🏾😩
I'm so glad to hear it. 🫂
Thank you for this. 💛
Thank you for reading 🙏🏾🥹