Born for this

Yesterday I had a conversation with my dad, and I'm sure that it could've been influenced by the gravity of my dad's health situation, but I became very moved and very passionate. It centered around a core value issue for me. That's what core values do to a person. They wind them up inside at the thought of existing any other way. Each of us have issues that are so deep inside us that when presented with any alternative we well up with emotion.

In the midst of this discussion, reminiscing about a decision that we made early on in the church plant. I uttered words that I wasn't even prepared for. They were words that slipped through my lips so fast, and yet so full of feeling that I was taken aback for a moment. "I'm doing what I was born to do", came the words. And just like that, I remembered.

The truth is when you give your life to something, no matter how passionate, excited, and committed you are, it just becomes routine sometimes. You work for ways to improve what you give your life to; to make it the best it can be. As a pastor I know I feel the stress of a metric of success that I haven't attained, and so I work to improve our church's influence and significance. But at the end of the day I can forget that I don't do this because it was an exciting job opportunity. It isn't a move to advance my career. I'm in this because God chose me. He had this planned since before my parents planned me. My calling is God ordained and directed, and He has me right where he wants me.

As I spoke those words yesterday I felt an enlightenment in my spirit. "I'm doing what I was born to do." And there ain't nothing better.

--Ben