I was reading about Ben Goldsmith’s overarching life’s passion in his book God is an octopus. Our passions, those things that drive us, often come and are recognised when we are younger. His has been wilding. It suddenly struck me as I was reading that I know mine. Mine has taken time to develop and form. I thought mine was to do with wildlife and birds. Yes, I am passionate about them but not in the same way as this purpose. I refer back to a dream which conveyed this passion yet it was driven by a purpose. [NB. there is an interplay or interchange between passion and purpose]
I was asking the Lord to show me what he wants with me (purpose) back in April 2018. I recognise what he gave me was already inside of me but I didn’t recognise it at the time I had the dream. It’s been growing like a tree. This Bible Project series has highlighted that to me about that purpose again.
a life’s passion is a powerful force that shapes an individual’s life,
A synthesised Google definition
providing motivation, purpose, and enjoyment.
It is a deep and enduring interest that can be a source of immense fulfillment
and contribute to a sense of wholeness and meaning.
How do I give legs to this purpose now as I get older? Writing is a branch of that purpose. Sharing with others is a branch of that purpose. My keenness for wilding and nature is also a branch of that purpose. It is taking shape in my mind more deeply, more broadly.
I have not written what this purpose is yet. Some of me dares not say it lest it be whisked away from me as I speak it out. The creator of the universe knew this, that I’d be so connected to this purpose. It is my life purpose! My metanarrative, that which I long to see and reveal in others and through all that I do is the Exodus or as Bible Project simply put it: The way out, the road through (wilderness) and the path in.
I’ve taken their words and used different synonyms for their words.
Maybe it is too grand to write what I have just written as my personal purpose. Yet I know it makes sense of my life and draws it altogether. It’s the gospel message that is personal to me that is a thread that runs through the purpose.
I thought that because I haven’t understood the crucifixion (the death of Jesus) as something for me, that I have been somewhat a lesser, different kind of unorthodox Christian. Yet this narrative they present through the pages of scripture helps me to see that being a follower of Jesus is very much the way he invites all of us into. It makes so much more sense to me.
It is my lost and found moment.
There are those out in the world who may not get the gospel like it is so often portrayed, mainly about the atonement – Jesus dying for us. They may not have any sense of being dysfunctional in some way or that they are sinners but they may have a sense that something is missing or something is broken. A sense of loss or lostness. Jesus came to rescue us. He came to rescue us from oppression and slavery to brokenness, to worldly powers both seen and unseen. The latter seems to run the show, our world, at times but this is not what the message through the Bible conveys.
There’s the pre-incarnate Christ who is seen at work in the world throughout the Biblical narrative, with a family of people who were led out of slavery and oppression. He is this road, this way, this path. It’s his tripartite nature evident in not only being of the godhead, three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but also that of his own nature. Jesus himself said I am the way, the truth and the life. Without him or without participating in following him there is no truth, no life and no way!
He has come to set the captives free from oppression. His kingdom is here. Yes, it is a not yet kingdom but it is also a now kingdom. He enters into the world through his body, that of the church and directly through personally meeting with people.
[NB. Whilst editing this post I came across a useful video about the difference between purpose and passion].