The Sweet Spot

What brings you joy, satisfaction, or a sense of purpose? 

Give yourself a moment to dig deep to find the answer. Is it making someone laugh? Is it clearing your neighbor's sidewalk? Is it smiling and saying, "Hi" to a complete stranger? Maybe, it's buying coffee for the person in line behind you.  

Whatever it is, you do it because it means going beyond yourself to make a difference and bring meaning to someone else while feeling joy. That's what writing has been for me. An opportunity to step outside of personal discouragement and agendas in hopes of encouraging someone, somewhere, in their everyday life. 

That, somehow, a person who reads a post won't feel so alone, ashamed, or forgotten. That they will breathe a sigh of relief, reassurance, or gratitude. That this God given desire to love on people with words will be successfully received.

Jesus was someone who went out of His way to help others. He would even go as far as performing the miraculous for those in deep pain and need. All in an effort to show His love and make the most of the purpose He took seriously. It was never about Himself, only the sweet spot He had found.

Even while experiencing His own personal anguish, there was no distance too far that He wouldn't walk to make someone's day. It was more important to meet the needs of others than His own. I want to be like that.

So, if you enjoy doing something specific for other people, let that be the reason you get out of bed each morning. If showing crazy goodness to someone is the only way to escape your own disappointment, depression, or hopelessness, this world needs your crazy goodness. Sometimes in stepping outside of ourselves, the greatest joy and satisfaction can be found.

Seek out that joy, satisfaction, and/or sense of purpose. Do it quietly or do it loudly. Do it with flare or with elegance. Do it in color or black and white. Find your sweet spot and stay there.

Encouragement for the week:

Have you found joy, satisfaction, or purpose in your life?

Don't panic if you haven't yet. It took me the better part of 43 years to find mine and this was only after having believed that I would never find them.

I am thankful that it came at the time it did. When unemployment and lack of direction was at the forefront while resigned to the fact that a joy filled purpose may never come...but it did.

In the most unexpected way, in the most unusual form, with a lot of self-doubt. Yours is coming too, in a way you never expected so keep an eye out for it because you just never know.

If you are Christian, you have one of the greatest purposes ever assigned and so many more to come.

If you are not a Christian, look for Jesus and you will find Him and learn of the greatest way to all of your purposes.