A few years ago, I went to a training program called Driven For Life. I had spent the previous 10 years working in ministry and made the difficult decision to go back into the “real” world, the secular world. I’ve never really thought about it before now but it’s interesting that the secular world was “out there” while we (that’d be I) could remain safe and secure in my Christian bubble. A clear division.
While in ministry, “purpose” was clear. I spent long hours and long days serving individuals, families and the church at large. Not all, but most of the families I served, I got to pick as I headed up the military ministry. How I loved my military families. Purpose.
Anyway, so I end up at this corporate training on Leadership. Rather random but my husband had gone through it, raved about it, so I had to check it out. Having gone through probably 10-15 such programs in my life, I didn’t have high expectations. And let’s be honest, I am already a leader. I step up, I step out. Leading multiple ministries at church, plus a history of being at the helm of my own businesses, partnerships and managerial positions since I was in my mid-20’s.
I’ve blogged about the training, the company, the impact multiple times since going to this initial program. But, let’s talk God.
Because I have a God focus I watch for places where God is loud. Where His presence is clear and indisputable. Where I can see or feel Him working in lives. Do you ever just watch? Watch for Him, watch for those divine appointments, interventions, movements?
Like Field of Dreams, “If you build it they will come.” If you watch, if you’re alert, He can be seen.
A corporate Leadership training, somewhat like a boot camp designed to kick your life into gear – 16 people in the room, each gaining insight into business, teams, engagement, leadership.
But for believers…there is an undercurrent, or over-arching energy, of God and ministry and mission and purpose, in the room.
As I moved through this 3-day leadership training, God was loud. Oh, so loud! Not only for me but for other believers (and quite possibly non-believers) in the room. To completely over-simplify, God told me, “to be in ministry, you don’t have to work in ministry. He will use me either way.” And he has and does.
He told one of my teammates that, “every person wants to be seen and heard, wants to be known. And his job/ministry is to listen.” How he does that, he’ll have to figure out on his own.
When I worked at the church, it seemed everyone was intent on finding their purpose, what God wanted from them. How they were “meant” to be used. Their spiritual purpose, their spiritual gifts. Admittedly, I was always saying, just do the work, let God figure out the purpose. Maybe we are not meant to know.
So there I sat in a corporate, non-religious training, watching God bring to light purpose after purpose. 16 people walking out of the program knowing their purpose, their intent, their direction.
Powerful.
The world is dark. It is getting darker, more depraved. I’m don’t believe anyone can argue with that. We need light. We need change makers. We need them now, but we also need the next generation coming in to embrace their power, their lives and their ability to exact change. Look around. If we don’t already feel desperate for light, I believe we should.
Over the past 18 months since going through the program, I’ve done all that I can to remain connected to Driven For Life. I believe they are making change. I believe they are sending change makers out into the world, whether in business, in corporations, in ministry or in personal lives. When someone knows their “purpose” being a changemaker just comes with the territory.
Be a Changemaker. Be a light.
This past week, I was “assisting” at a training. I had my tablet set up to take some notes, maybe to blog. As I sat listening to the opening chapter, I typed in a few comments.
As I took my hands off the keyboard … a few more words continued to type. Seriously? What the heck! Erase. I type some more, it typed some more. Uh! Creepy. Back and forth. What in the world??
It types: John 1:1
Not the scripture, just the reference.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
First thought: my tablet is possessed, I’m tossing it out the window, I thought as a bit of panic set in.
Then I realized my microphone was on and the tablet was picking up random words. Ok. Shut it off – much better.
But seriously, what word did it pick up to type John 1:1?
Did God speak into my tablet? I don’t know, but it’s worth thinking about. Maybe it was just a reminder that I have an affinity for words – my purpose, my calling, my gift? I don’t know, but I need to get back to writing.
