Some time ago during a Bible study a phrase was presented to the group that changed the way I thought about what my purpose for being here on this planet was. The phrase was “….doing the work that must be done….”. I don’t remember the context in which the phrase was brought up, but I knew as I heard it, that it was meaningful for me.
At the moment I first heard it, it stuck in my mind as something that helped to tie together the pieces of my drifting purpose. It confirmed what I somehow already knew, that there was important work to be done, and I was the one that had to do it.
By drifting purpose I mean being caught in indecision. Knowing that something should be done, but not knowing exactly what and/or how to do it. It was like I was stuck in neutral just idling. There was no motion to the thoughts, ideas, voices, and other calls that I had quietly placed away in my brain. All of these things were just floating, unattached, in my mind. Then all of a sudden this phrase, doing the work that must be done, took all of those things and connected them. It made them real and validated them all in one shot. As I mentioned above, it tied them all together and motivated me to take action. Hence, this website, and the blogs within.
Pieces Into Parts
For me, the phrase was a call to action and as I began to look more closely at it I realized why it impacted me so profoundly.
The verb “doing” jumped out and called me to start moving, to start doing something.
The word “the” specified to me that this was the exact and correct work to be done. It also implied to me that there is a body of work out there that must be done to make the world a better place. It told me that it was not the wrong work, but the right work, and that gave me confidence and inspiration that I was on the right track. And because of that feeling I was totally motivated to get started. I guess it made me feel that the confusion was gone, this was real and it was okay to go for it.
The word “work” described to me that I was going to have to roll-up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. But because it was work that I felt I was supposed to be doing, it seemed more like fun than something that I was not going to enjoy. In fact, enjoyment or pain did not even cross my mind. The more powerful and liberating feeling was the knowing part. Knowing what my purpose was, gave me a feeling of direction and inspired power – the good kind of power. The I am being called by God kind of power.
The helping or auxiliary verb “must” mandated what had to be done. It told me that it was not really a choice but rather something that I had to do. And because the whole phrase tied everything together, the must part really helped me to kick start the process. It was a command that I accepted and was excited to be told.
The phrase “be done” finalized everything for me. It brought or will bring closure to the process and purpose of the activity that was started. Even though I realize that the process is never ending while I am here on earth, the phrase helped and still helps me stay the course and endure the battles that I am and will be in.
God Speaks
I don’t know how you hear God, but for a long time God has been speaking to me through certain phrases, like the one described above, or through certain situations or exchanges with life that present themselves as I go through my day, and I am never quite sure when they will appear. I guess that is why I try my best to stay connected with God through my weekly Bible studies, my morning devotionals, daily prayers, and my alarm reminders so that I am ready to receive any calls that might come in.
Like a login and password that unlock or tie together uncompleted ideas and concepts and bring clarity to how I am supposed to spend my time to make the world a better place, the expression “….doing the work that must be done….” tied together the drifting ideas in my mind and called me to action! And helped me further discover my purpose – to help others. So, that is what I am attempting to “do” with this blog.
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