Look closely before you leap

The old adage “Look before you leap” wasn’t coined so cats could get from a comfortable chair to an even more comfortable couch. Anyone who has a cat as a pet knows that these curious – and often crazy – creatures are generally pretty good at finding their way around. Cats just intuitively seem to know what to do and don’t need a lot of instruction.

That being said, the cat in this picture once jumped off a balcony about 10 feet off the ground by accident in an impulsive attempt to catch a passing butterfly. But thankfully, she only tried that once. I guess even cats sometimes need to learn this basic lesson.

But for some of God’s other creatures (i.e. people) life experience is much more complex. Yes, we arrive on the earth with many important capabilities and yet also arrive lacking knowledge in many ways. In order to avoid any confusion, the point of this post is that it will often be necessary for each one of us to aggressively go out and get the knowledge and experience we need.

Please don’t underestimate the amount of time and intentional effort this will take. And please don’t wait too long to get started.

Back in high school, I remember boarding a bus in a bit of a haze with many other students and travelling to the University of Saskatchewan on a career exploration tour. This was a step in the right direction, in terms of gathering more information, but it wasn’t very helpful because the purpose of the trip wasn’t individually specific enough.

Oh yes, some new knowledge was acquired along the way.

What I remember most about that trip was that the agronomy or “Agro” students had a rivalry (sometimes friendly and sometimes not) with the engineers. Not surprisingly, the engineers had the technological upper hand; they had a device capable of firing melon-sized projectiles at unsuspecting agronomy students. But, not to be outdone, the Agros had the tactical advantage of a classroom on the third floor overlooking an important walking path…and access to a water hose.

Which side of the campus war did I want to be on? That was the bizarre question that captured my imagination on the trip back to my home town.

But what is really bizarre, is that I never got around to actually talking to any recent agronomy students or engineering students who had jobs doing what they were trained to do. If I was seriously thinking about becoming an Engineer don’t you think it would make sense to make an effort to talk to one and ask a few questions?

But I never did. Instead, I applied to the College of Engineering (partly because I didn’t know what else to do), got accepted and then privately agonized over whether or not I should go. Looking back, I didn’t make nearly enough effort to get the information I really needed in order to make a wise decision.

Confusion set in for good reason. I didn’t know what I wanted to do partly because I didn’t take the time or put in the right kind of effort to find out.

In case you are wondering, I never did become an Engineer. And for this the world can be eternally thankful. Enough things fall apart as it is. But being a slow learner, I went on to apply to the College of Education without ever talking to anyone who worked as a primary or secondary teacher. What was I thinking!?

Back then, my general approach was to collect as many college catalogues as possible, stare at them in a prolonged and confused state until I ran out of time, and then make a wild leap in a mostly random career direction.

Never again.

Discovering what you like

What do you enjoy? What do you like? And what would you be willing to do for free?

These questions sound simple. And yet, for many they are not easy to answer. But this personal knowledge is necessary in order to move ahead and make good decisions. Without a more clear understanding of what you like, decision-making will seem random or endlessly complicated.

Chances are you will go somewhere and do something – for no particularly reason – or just stand still and stay stuck. And neither option is good.

Trying something for a while, and then reflecting on what you have tried, is one way to work towards a more accurate understanding and finally get to know yourself. And so, I am going to reflect on a few life experiences in order to follow this advice. So here we go.

Going to High School

What did I enjoy the most about the high school years?

Admittedly, high school was not a highlight in my life; I was glad when it was over. But it certainly wasn’t all bad either. In fact, compared to many high schools the Swift Current Comprehensive High School was a very good place to be. It was a fairly large school, about 1000 students, and I am thankful for the opportunity to try out a variety of different subjects and activities.

Through that experience, and others since, I discovered that I enjoy working with words and ideas. Everyone, of course, works with words and ideas but not necessarily in the same way.

English was my favorite class. In some ways, it was very difficult. But I enjoy the challenge of doing research and trying to write and communicate what is true. For I do not like being deceived or manipulated. If I have a core passion, it’s that I really, really, really, really, really (Should I add a few more or have you had enough?) want to know what is true.

Don’t tell me that everything is true or nothing is true or that there is no such thing as truth. Tell me what is true. Truth matters. Reality, and yes there is such a thing, counts. But nowadays, politics trumps truth. It might sound a little crass, but I seem to have arrived on the earth with a very sensitive B.S. detector built into my entire being.

Which subjects did you enjoy in high school? What ideals or noble goals grab your attention more than anything else?

Working in Restaurants

While I grew up on a farm, one of my first jobs – actually during high school – was working in a restaurant. Opa is the German world for grandpa, and this restaurant was called Opa’s.

When the meal was over I came in and cleaned things up, set the tables again, and sometimes did the dishes. A very glamorous job to be sure. Later on, in college, I worked in another restaurant as a waiter. Both restaurants had very good food and were also fairly good places to work.

But, to state the obvious, every restaurant is a social place – an exceedingly social place. There are all sorts of people coming and going. The employees are running here and there. There’s constant conversation in the background. It’s a loud and busy place. Not exactly a peaceful setting that would attract introverts from far and wide to come and reflect on the meaning of life.

This is to say, that this experience helped me realize that I enjoy working primarily alone as opposed to with a lot of people. It’s not that I like to be alone all the time and live in a hermitage. But I do enjoy working by myself. Some people are quite the opposite, and that is fine. The idea is to understand yourself.

Which working environment have you enjoyed the most so far? Where do you thrive?

Living in Community

Over the years, I have been a part of eight or ten (depending how you count) Christian churches or communities. And I have visited many others. It’s not that I was “church-hopping” all the time, but I have moved a lot and lived in a variety of countries and communities.

In my experience, no two churches are exactly alike. While there are all sorts of similarities, there’s also an incredible amount of diversity and variety.

Let’s face it: living in community is not always easy. If you do this for long enough, you will run into a certain amount of trouble and difficulty and hardship. Most of the problems surround making decisions together. But this is hardly unique to the Christian church. And despite the challenges I have experienced, there’s really no place I would rather be. I am very thankful for the Christian church and proud to be a part of the global Christian community.

Looking back, I really enjoy being able to make a meaningful contribution that is unique to who I am. In other words, I like to be involved in some way aside from being person #423 who shows up to sit in chair #322, volunteer in activity #129, and give to this or that particular fund. Stand up, sit down, walk in, walk out, and do it all again next week.

Who wants to feel like a nameless number? Who want to feel like they could leave at any moment and no one would really notice at a personal level?

Most pastors and leaders really want people to be involved, they want to build community, but it is sometimes a struggle to find a way to do that particularly with a large group of people. And for three years I was part of a congregation with over 2,000 people.

In might sound odd, but in a different congregation (a much smaller one) I really enjoyed working on the constitution. The goal was to make the whole enterprise function more effectively. And again, I really enjoyed that. Many people wouldn’t like that at all, but I did. Because I like to organize ideas.

If you are part of a church, what do you enjoy the most? What could you do in order to make the best contribution that you can?

Hope on the horizon

Staying alive all the way through 2013 is a major accomplishment. With just a few days to go until 2014, the countdown has begun; the suspense is building. Maybe you and I will live to see the new year, but then again…maybe not. If you are up for some sober reflection, consider a few doomsday scenarios that could easily do us in.

1. Disease and natural disasters

Exactly how many contagious diseases could one person catch? More than I can count anyway. And there must be just as many meteorites zipping on by at a million miles per hour. The other day one blew up over Montreal. Sorry, but wearing a hard hat (even a very good one) isn’t going to help. Whether it’s global warming or global cooling or super-mega-crazy storms, it doesn’t take long for humanity to be humbled.

2. Terrorists and global tyrants

On top of that, in case anyone forgot, we live in an age of military madness. Yes, one little nuclear bomb can still ruin your whole day; and quite a few countries are packing – eventually, Iran might be one of them. Blowing things up is a pastime that appeals to a large number of people. With all the combined conventional and nuclear firepower, a visitor to this planet might get the impression that we are preparing for Armageddon. Maybe we are.

3. Cruelty and human hatred

Oh, and in case you haven’t noticed, a lot of people down here don’t like each other. Media companies could easily talk about nothing but slander and assault and lawsuits and quarrels and threats and deadly violence. Over in New York City, and sadly in other places as well, some people enjoy randomly punching strangers and knocking them out just for fun. There is enough human hatred to keep a small army of journalists occupied, even if they only focus on the war against Christians in Africa and the Middle East.

Survival in itself is something to celebrate. In many countries, the odds of staying alive for very long are not good. Even in comparatively safe and stable countries, threats to life and liberty abound.

Whatever differences there may be between us, you and I have two things in common: We are both mere mortals and we both live in a world plagued with problems. It is in this context that we must each attempt to do what we can to make a difference.

So don’t get caught off guard by suffering and pain and problems – and even death – in the new year. These things have been part of this fallen world for quite some time now. And don’t waste your time blaming God and wondering why your little part of the planet hasn’t been protected or spared. These mysteries are beyond our understanding.

There are, of course, some who view the so-called “problem of pain” as a knock-down argument countering the conviction that there is a loving and powerful God. This ancient problem (it is nothing new) basically has four parts: the reality of suffering, the existence of God, the belief that God is good, and the conviction that this God is all-powerful. If you remove any of these parts, you don’t have a problem anymore. But if you add one more (i.e. God is much smarter than us) then you have a mystery.

At the same time, don’t forget that there is good reason to believe that all wrongs will be made right, and that one day most of creation will be restored to its original state. There is hope. And this hope is huge. What we know to be normal on earth now is not really normal. Not at all. In addition, keep in mind that God is present in this broken world. In other words, you and I have not been abandoned. We are not alone as we face the future.

But feelings can have a way of sneaking up behind us from time to time and overpowering our core convictions. Try not to let that happen in 2014. What we may feel at any given moment does not determine what is true or what is real. Remember that. What you know in your head may be quite different from how you feel in your heart.

And yet, feelings can also help us understand. Many are shocked and surprised and temporarily stunned when confronted by raw suffering and personal pain. We suddenly feel that suffering and pain is wrong; that it just doesn’t fit. Pain feels like an intruder, like an obnoxious and uninvited guest at a party that had been going quite well.

Happiness is more easily connected with the restoration of creation, and participation in this process, than with any particular new year. But I hope you have a very happy new year nonetheless.

Whatever happens, keep moving ahead and keep doing what you can to make a difference.

Leah’s journey so far

Today Leah Kostamo, co-founder of A Rocha in Canada, shares lessons from her life journey

When I was twenty-one years old I heard God’s call. I was sitting on the grass outside the University of Arizona library, when I heard (with the ears of my heart, yet no less clearly than if it had been the ears of my ears!), “Go ye on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ.” And my heart sank right into my toes. This is not what I wanted to do. Firstly, because I wanted to go feed starving people in Africa. Secondly, because I wasn’t the “crusading” type.

But after three pretty miraculous confirmations, I packed my bags and headed off to the University of Idaho to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission of making disciples of all nations. Cue the big bass drum…Dum, dum, dum!

Look for that intersection between your greatest gifts and the world’s greatest needs

And it was good. But six years and countless evangelistic tracts later, I started to feel restless, like I had overstayed my welcome at a party. I asked God for direction. I prayed. I even fasted for three whole days. I walked outside into the wheat fields, held my hands to the sky and asked the wind of the Spirit to blow me like a weather vane to my true north. But, nothing, not even a puff of direction. So I did what I wanted – I went to graduate school to study theology.

And I felt like I had come home. If I could have, I would have pulled up an armchair at the hearth of that school and stayed forever. But graduate school is a fast moving train and in what seemed like a nanosecond I had disembarked and was standing at another crossroads.

This time around I barely had time to pray, let alone fast. Within the span of a week, a sure-fire job fell through, a roommate made an offhand comment about a wonderful school overseas, I called the administrators of said school who said they were looking for someone with my exact qualifications, and three people independently offered to fund my posting. Et, voila! A few weeks later I was on a plane to teach at a college on the shores of the Baltic Ocean.

And again I felt like I had come home.

So, to recap:

Existential call of God, which I heed as an act of obedience – feels good.
Silence of God, so I follow my heart – feels like home.
Circumstances and miraculous provision dictate call – again, home.

But the big daddy of vocational callings was still on the horizon. At thirty-two I got married and moved back to Canada where my husband Markku and I held our vocational future up to the heavens for guidance and blessing. We stood in this posture for nearly two years (long enough for our arms to get good and tired!).

By the end of that time it was clear that money was not to be a deciding factor in whatever we did. And barring a miraculous call, we would follow Frederick Buechner’s advice and look for that intersection between our greatest gifts and the world’s greatest needs.

Enter A Rocha. Weird name, I know. It means “the rock” in Portuguese and began as a Christian environmental centre on the coast of Portugal nearly 20 years previous. Imagine the Sierra Club, meets a youth hostel, ground the whole idea in Christian community, and you have a flavour of the thing.

A Rocha’s ministry of extending God’s love to all of creation was like the knitting of all the strands of our lives together. From our training in ecology and entrepreneurial leadership (Markku) and campus ministry and education (Leah) to our love for other cultures and community, the work of A Rocha was like a pair of old jeans we stepped into and found that they fit perfectly.

Even so, birthing A Rocha in Canada felt like the labour it was. There were salaries to raise, an environmental centre to acquire, staff to be found, meals to be cooked, and on and on. We shed many a tear of frustration. But more often, our eyes filled with tears of gratitude, especially as we watched the humble, but deeply good work of earthkeeping unfolding all around us; whether that looked like restoring a salmon stream or opening the eyes of a child to the beauty of creation or sitting with a struggling intern.

We watched, astounded, as the tiny seed of an idea grew into a glorious tree in which the birds of the air had come to roost (literally!).

So, to recap once again:

No rulebook for how God calls — sometimes via a megaphone, sometimes a whisper, sometimes the call just looks like our lives.
No rulebook for how to confirm God’s vocational calling — it always feels like home, but sometimes that home needs to be built from the ground up with blood, sweat and tears.

So, if there’s no rulebook, what is there?

Well, there’s God’s overarching call – a call to every human being on planet earth to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). There’s obviously lots of room for vocational creativity within that calling. Farming, parenting, painting, pastoring, frog and fungi studying — wherever and however we care for people and places with our unique gifts and skills and with an eye toward justice and love, we are sitting in the centre of our calling.

If God blasts you with a megaphone, great. If not, take a step back and take in the wonderful vocational tapestry God has been weaving with the strands of your life already. It will look like what you’re good at and what the world needs.

Leah Kostamo is the author of Planted: A Story of Creation, Calling and Community. She likes to read (and write) wise and winsome stories that inspire people to be the change they want to see in the world. She can be found online at leahkostamo.com. She ministers with A Rocha, a Christian conservation organization.

The back of the bus

So I am sitting on this bus, a big city bus, bouncing along from one lonely and depressing street to another. And slowly my bus begins to fill up.

A Hispanic man, probably in his mid-thirties, sits down across from me and quickly becomes preoccupied with his smartphone. It’s just another day. And this is texting time for him, I guess. But what else is there to do on this city bus? We sort of acknowledge each other’s existence, but try to avoid making eye contact. You know how it is. Awkward.

He looks down and I look up and away – off into the distance. There is always more concrete coming. And more of this and that and the other thing. It never seems to end.

Longing for another place inspires many to change their own

After a few more blocks, I notice that my fellow traveller appears to look like I feel: tired and sad. Am I projecting my present feelings onto him? I don’t think so. There are lines around his eyes. We have this in common and many other things. And yet, he has a story to tell that I will never hear. And a life to live.

Two strangers on a big city bus.

Then, two English girls step inside and make their way to the back. They are both Caucasian and have shoulder-length hair. One is wearing dark sun glasses. Sitting down, they carry on a lively conversation and speak loud enough for everyone to hear. A little too loud. Sounds like they are good friends.

I’m not used to hearing English and almost feel guilty being able to understand what they are saying. Especially since they are talking about relationships and men and sex – right there on the bus. Mostly it’s about relationships gone bad, guys bothering them on Facebook, dates that didn’t work out, and other disappointments. The usually stuff.

Faithfulness is a foreign concept. As far as I can tell, the main point is to communicate that they are still desirable and available. It’s too bad that they struggle with their weight. Maybe, deep down, they feel like no one will ever really care. For them. Just as they are.

People continue to pour in as the bus plods along, and soon all the seats are taken.

A young girl of African descent is sitting next to me talking to her phone. I’m mean, really talking to her phone. She must have a FaceTime feature or something, although I’m not up on all these things. Once again, I can’t help but overhear the conversation. At least her side of the story.

She comes across as being happy and hopeful and confident. I hear about her plans to go back to school. Working at the restaurant will have to end then. Not enough time. She is thinking ahead. And I get the impression that she is careful with her money. She is able to communicate what she wants and has clear boundaries and goals. I am happy for her. Even though she is a stranger, I really am.

But there also seems to be an aching emptiness in her life. She wakes up and has a smoke. Goes to work and comes back home. Has another smoke and goes to bed. And that is about it. This happens over and over again. And for what purpose? Is there a purpose?

Is there more to life than this? seems to be the unspoken question. Later on, I wonder if she has ever read Ecclesiastes. Such an encouraging book in an odd sort of way.

The bus is moving faster now, and I am beginning to wish that this journey would end. I want to get off and get away and go home. To my true home. Yes, I mean heaven. It’s all broken here – in this town and in this life, in some way. It’s like this everywhere I go.

The next big city bus ride isn’t much better. The lady standing in line behind me had too much to drink and isn’t allowed to make the trip. This has happened before. And then, there’s the guy with the gun. Thankfully, they found it before he got on.

And so it goes. This time, I sit as close to the front as I can.

Scott’s themes and axioms

Today Career & Life Direction welcomes Scott Forbes from International Justice Mission Canada

My direction in life was indelibly set one weekend when I was 14 years old and in Grade 9. A friend and his cousin invited me to a youth conference at their church; I had never been to such an event. But that was the weekend when I finally understood that Jesus was offering me forgiveness of sins – with no strings attached.

And that was the weekend that I decided to be a missionary. The latter decision was the result of the contagious enthusiasm of Burt Kamphuis, the Canadian director of Operation Mobilization. That whole weekend, Burt talked about the fact that God would not only forgive my sins, but that I could go anywhere in the world and God would be with me and go ahead of me.

Fast forward 37 years, and I can now be found working for International Justice Mission Canada as a spokesperson for victims of violent oppression in the developing world.

In the intervening years my wife, Karen, and I progressed steadily along a trajectory defined by the two pivotal themes from that weekend long ago: sins are forgiven in and through Jesus and the concrete reality of God’s global sovereign presence.

Looking back on our decision-making, I can best describe how I arrived at this point by referring to several of my life axioms. Axioms are phrases or sentences that you will find yourself repeating as life moves along. They provide an internal decision-making guide. At 20 years of age you are living by the axioms held by your parents. By 50, you have refined and replaced those axioms with truths that fit your time and circumstance.

Here are four of my axioms that may have value to you:

1. Go far and go fast

Default to options that involve the potential for getting away from your home turf. We have both a college and a university in our city, yet I required all of my children to choose their post-secondary education elsewhere. The closest of the four choices was a university only 200 km away from home, while the farthest choice was 2200 km away and involved a two-day drive.

Why such a principle? More personal growth takes place when everyday decisions are not second guessed by Mom and Dad.

2. All things being equal, do the hard thing

Default to options that involve new learning in order to be successful. This axiom does not mean that you are to make life unnecessarily difficult for yourself. It means that you should stretch your capabilities and add value to your skill set by taking on more difficult and complex tasks.

Even if you fail, you will learn important life lessons.

Why do this? This is the way to build fearlessness in a fast changing environment, where leaders are always looking for new and younger leaders to develop.

3. Never let money be the deciding factor

Do not default to the highest paying job or the school with the cheapest tuition. Money should always be kept in its place. It is only one factor amongst many that you will consider when making decisions. For example, it is trumped by axioms one and two.

A chance to move outside your comfort zone – taking on new tasks or meeting new people – is preferable to staying put within the same environment even if the status quo pays more money or costs less.

4. Remember that decisions are cumulative

Do not fall prey to the idea of “isolated decisions.” There is no such thing as an isolated decision. Each decision moves you forward and leaves certain other decisions and opportunities behind. It takes many small decisions in the same direction to become the best in your field or an alcoholic.

But it’s okay to change your mind. Sometimes it is only in the act of taking the next step that we realize that it is a step in the wrong direction. If this describes your situation, you can and should turn around sooner rather than later.

Scott Forbes is married to Karen and they live in London, ON, Canada. The have lived and served in Africa and Canada in a variety of capacities. For the last four years, Scott has been working with International Justice Mission Canada. Scott is the Director of Mobilization and Development for Eastern Canada.

Who am I?

Have you ever stopped long enough to consider this question? And do you have an answer? Do you know who you are?

This basic question is asked by most everyone sooner or later. Even the non-introspective types take it on their tongues; that is, when all the frantic activity comes to an end. A very personal question, it comes up again and again. Perhaps it is asked so often because the answer is not always immediately obvious. The answer isn’t compelling or clear.

Who am I? Who are you, really?

Maybe other curious creatures also raise this probing question. Or is it only human beings who sometimes seem perplexed? For example, what kind of thoughts would you expect to find in the brain of an average bear? What is a furry creature like a bear for, anyway? Do they wonder? And how about the specific and unique purpose of any particular hungry bear you happen to meet deep in the forest while hiking all alone?

For some reason, it’s a challenge to imagine a young grizzly bear perched high up on a mountain side peering up into the night sky and pondering the meaning of the universe and its place in it all. At least for me. If a bear was asked about his personal aspirations and identity he would probably simply say, “Give me lots of berries, a lost human hiker or two…and I’m good.”

While each person will have to work towards an answer to this lingering question, here are a few answers to avoid along the way:

1. “I am…completely defined by what other people think or say”

The other day, I had the unpleasant experience of standing in line at a fast food restaurant and being forced to listen to a disturbing conversation going on in front of me. Thankfully, I can’t remember ever listening to a conversation quite like this one.

For some reason, one older man felt compelled to put his companion or friend down in this public place. He did this again and again. I witnessed verbally abusive behaviour that was completely uncalled for. And I hope that the other man didn’t believe or accept what was said.

Most of the time, of course, the situations we find ourselves in are not as obvious or as cut-and-dried. Usually it is a good idea or rule of thumb to carefully consider what other people think and say – particularly people you are close to and respect.

But at the same time, always remember this: No influential person or party or group or culture or family member or friend can define who you truly are.

It just doesn’t work that way.

2. “I am…completely defined by what I happen to think or say”

Well then, is it possible to define yourself in absolutely any way you happen to like? Some people seem to think so.

Despite evidence to the contrary, they insist that reality must be infinitely flexible. They are apparently whoever they claim to be. And nobody is allowed to say otherwise. When the “Sez who?” question is asked, they have an answer. They are the answer.

If I say that I am a skilled metal worker or a brilliant scientist or male or female or the product of a random cosmic event, etc. then so it must be. The idea is to pretty much block everything out and then assume that the universe will adjust to fit the latest ideas that happen to be bouncing around in your head.

Shocking but true. Crazy, but all too common.

For the record, this extreme position tends to be embraced by those who claim to have lost their faith in an established philosophy or religion or faith or worldview. Oddly enough, they simultaneously seem to discover an enormous – some would say ridiculous – amount of faith in themselves.

Moving along.

3. “I am…completely defined by my understanding of what God thinks or has said”

Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a believe-whatever-you-happen-to-like statement at all. This is a word of caution.

As you may know, there was a time when many Christians thought that a very limited number of honourable occupations were available to them. Being a pastor or missionary or teacher or nurse or full-time Christian worker of some sort got you lots of respect. But that was about it.

Thankfully, this understanding is no longer as prevalent as it once was. But given such a situation, what do you suppose might happen? Young people who are not really suited for these high-ranking roles might be tempted to force themselves to fit.

So you live and learn. Just because God has spoken doesn’t always mean that we each have a perfect understanding of what has been said.

Who am I? My creator knows who I am and what I could become. I don’t. Although I know much more now than I once did.

*Your comments are appreciated. Go to the top of this or any other blog post. Click on the number to the right. Then scroll to the bottom of the post. A comment form will be waiting for you there. Feel free to share your thoughts. Comments are screened and may not all be posted.

A picture perfect life

My Canadian passport has come in quite handy over the years. Aside from getting me where I need to go, this standard document has provided endless hours of entertainment. How so? Whenever my wife needs a good laugh, she opens it up and looks at my picture yet again. I laugh too. It’s a terrible shot. Truly hilarious.

How all those border guards were able to keep a straight face, and let me into their countries, I will never know. Although I can probably guess what they talked about during their coffee breaks.

There must be a school where you can learn how to take horrible pictures for official documents somewhere. A place where the goal is to make everyone look like they just woke up at three in the morning. This training might give people in power a psychological edge. Come to think of it, the guy on my driver’s licence does look suspicious. After one glance at my new photo I.D., I felt like making a citizen’s arrest and turning myself into the local authorities.

Perhaps you can relate.

Then again, it isn’t always easy to take a good picture, one where everyone and everything looks just so. Talk to anybody with kids. Talk to any wedding photographer after another nerve-racking day. Talk about a stressful job! In fact, getting a good shot is incredibly difficult at times – at least for me, and on either end of the camera.

An informal photo shoot for this website, for example, turned into a resounding gong show some time ago. Or in other words, it was an exercise in complete futility. How the delete button works is no longer a mystery.

If I had wanted to appear to be half awake, dazed and confused, grouchy and miserable, or completely disoriented, etc. most of the pictures would have turned out fine. But, of course I was hoping to come across as a happy, well-adjusted, and moderately successfully person who was coasting along quite nicely (thank you very much) through this life.

Unfortunately the camera did not want to cooperate. Confounded contraption.

But anyone who knows me, knows full well that I do not have a picture perfect life anyway. How many on this planet do? Really, how many people can back up the polished images they sometimes prefer to display?

Sure, there is something to be said for focusing on what is good, or even on a positive vision of what life could be like some day. It isn’t necessary to always dwell on the dark side, to be excessively realistic, or to fixate on personal problems. We don’t need to constantly air our dirty laundry. We all understand, as we pose to have our picture taken, that no one goes around smiling perfectly 24 hours a day.

Which is to say, that it’s perfectly okay to try to put your best foot forward. Why would anyone search for the worst possible picture they can find?

But the problem, as you know, is that it’s possible to quickly cross the line and go on to misrepresent who we truly are. It’s all too tempting for many of us to fabricate a life that barely exists, and then place this artificial image where it can be prominently displayed.

Strolling through a beautiful tourist town the other day, I was struck by how people could visit this bustling street – filled with expensive cars, well-dressed people, trendy stores, attractive restaurants, etc. – for all the wrong reasons.

For a moment, it felt like I was standing by the exit door at an image factory.

*This brief reflection about being authentic is also available in an audio format

Seeking a new perspective

It would have been better to read Os Guinness’s book the way he intended: only one chapter per day. Blazing through The Call: Finding and Fulfilling The Central Purpose of Your Life in a couple days was too much. Reflecting on ten pages each day over twenty-six days would have worked much better. My brain is overloaded and I’m feeling a bit numb.

An illustration perhaps that discovering something as substantial as your core life purpose doesn’t usually happen overnight. No, these things take time – a whole lot of precious time.

Not that I came away with nothing of value. There was, of course, the initial reminded that a deep sense of personal value and worth – not to mention a clear sense of calling – isn’t emphasized in every culture, philosophy or religion. While many people assume that this conviction is common everywhere, sadly, it just isn’t.

Unfortunately, large groups of people are taught to deny their true individuality, and talk about personal dignity and unique potential is routinely brushed aside. At the same time, many individuals carry on as if their lives matter although when pressed to give a reason are unsure exactly why; they live, coasting along, without compelling answers to critical life questions.

For the record, Dr. Guinness writes passionately about personal purpose as a committed Christian. And this is not a coincidence. Could it be that Christ’s arrival on the earth did more to affirm the value of each human being than anything else? For that matter, how much positive energy on this planet could finally be traced back to this source? Pausing to gaze east out of a western window, I wonder.

What else stood out during this supersonic survey?

Well, even a quick glance at the title of this book suggests that each person is called in some sense. It isn’t The Call: Becoming a Pastor or a Priest or The Call: Leaving your Family and Friends to Serve in Another Country or Culture Forever and Ever. Not at all. Who knows? It might even be perfectly normal to feel “called” to read a specific book and then write about it, or to do whatever you were doing before you decided to visit this website.

There is a word of caution here for all who desire to feel profoundly called and deeply inspired each and every moment of their lives. But at the same time, this book is written for all who aspire to have a greater sense of calling. And all of life is in view here – not just a small part of it.

Each chapter begins with a story, usually about somebody famous: William Wilberforce, Vaclav Havel, Andrew Carnegie, Pablo Picasso, Wolfgang Mozart, Ferdinand Magellan, and many others come up in the conversation. But Dr. Guinness also takes the time to tell about his family history and talk about his own story to introduce an aspect of calling. And yes, if “Guinness” sounds like the name of a famous Irish brew, you might be on to something.

Dr. Guinness has studied at Oxford, worked at L’Abri, reported for the BBC, and written or edited over 30 books. He has also served as a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum in the USA for many years. And yet, after reading his book, I am reminded that while calling certainly involves what we each do for a living, it also includes much more than just that. Calling is complicated, mysterious, all-encompassing and very much connected to the Caller.

One final observation: Discovering a greater sense of purpose often involves learning to view your life from a whole new perspective.

Consider crowdfunding

The last time I checked, Audrey Assad had raised $71,933 USD to record her first Independent album. In fact, she raised so much money that it looks like she is going to record two. That’s not bad for a month-long campaign. Not bad at all.

How how did she do it?

Like so many others creative types, Audrey turned to the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.com. You see, her contract with Sparrow Records had recently come to an end. And now Audrey was an artist struggling to make it on her own once again. But with the help of this amazing fundraising platform, she was able to appeal directly to her fans.

As it turned out, Audrey wasn’t all alone after all.

Kickstarter won’t necessary kickstart everyone or everything; it is limited to creative projects and, as far as I can tell, isn’t available in Canada. Wherever you live, though, a crowdfunding website of some sort is likely within your reach. Indiegogo is one site you might want to explore. Rocket Hub is another. And there are many more, in various stages of development, including Boumchicaboum.

This type of techo-fundraising tool just might be what you need to bring a project you are passionate about to life.

How does it work? The crowdfunding people in New York (Kickstarter) or San Fransisco (Indiegogo) or wherever provide the technical expertise and take a 5-10% cut. Meanwhile, you provide detailed information about your worthy project and come up with some creative rewards. You will need to create a compelling video and also write about the purpose of your project. And then, people who are interested in what you are doing hopefully kick in the cash. This, of course, is the hard part.

One weakness with this approach is that you basically need to have a crowd of people who are interested in what you are doing before you start. While you will gain some exposure, this system doesn’t primarily create support. Rather, this online tool provides a way for people to express their support. In other words, this method works best if you already have a community, a network, or a fan base of some sort.

As well, giving from such a distance implies a large amount of trust. For unlike a nonprofit organization, a governing board will not oversee how the money is spent. No audits are required. No financial statements will likely be forthcoming. This means that your project will need to instantly have obvious merit aside from meeting pressing personal needs.

People will need to have very good reason to feel confident that you are not a crook or a crackpot looking for some easy cash.

After taking the time to explore the Kickstarter site, it appears that more than a few loons have landed in this virtual fundraising pond. Would an Indie debut recording featuring 12 monotonous tuba solos receive the same kind of support? Probably not. Some people might get paid more if they promise to stop playing.

And while I am sitting on enough material to create my very own “Weird Nathan” album complete with potential hit songs like “Big Yellow Tow Truck” and “We Didn’t Start that Fire” inspired from listening to Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel…I think I’ll wait.

At Kickstarter, less than half of the projects advertised on the site actually reach their fundraising goals. Pause for a moment and let this sobering statistic sink in. This implies that anyone looking for a money tree to shake should probably look somewhere else. But at the same time, this online platform certainly has potential. Actually, it has an amazing amount of potential. Anybody can make use of it. And it is free.

This online service might just be what you need to bring your dreams back to life. What have you got to lose if you give it a try?

Searching for answers

No one arrives on this planet knowing everything they need to know. Then again, one exception comes to mind; one solitary life stands out.

But for most of us, humility always make sense. For there is so much that we do not know.

If knowledge equals power then people like you and me are obviously lacking in both. It’s a no brainer. It is so obvious. We all need help. Human knowledge is as limited as the day is long.

Even considering recent progress, it’s embarrassing how little we know. And getting connected to the Internet doesn’t change anything. Is some ways, this only makes the situation worse. For now there is a much larger filing cabinet to sort through in order to find what we really need. Having access to more and more information isn’t always a good thing.

Trying to make a major decision? Keep in mind that you likely do not intuitively know what you need to know in order to do that. No offense. Don’t be insulted. That’s just the way it is for each person reading this. You will need to spend a significant amount of time gathering information. If you haven’t done that yet, you will need to. Sorry, but there is no other reasonable way to go about it.

Do you really want to routinely make critical decisions in a way that is random or reckless?

Even if you tend to rely more on your emotions when making a decision (and to some extent that is okay) make sure you make the time to take in accurate images and pictures which will in turn shape and inform your feelings.

This friendly word of advice is offered while taking a break from a very extensive information gathering process. This process has gone on for several years now and, frankly, I am getting tired. But there is no other option – none that I can see anyway. Either you wait for the appropriate information to come to you, or you need to make the effort to go out and find it. And usually a bit of both takes place during any significant research project.

It is encouraging every now and then when timely information drifts in your direction. But finding information and sorting through information usually takes a lot of hard work. There is no way around it.

So what do you need to know right now? Identify the information you need, and then be prepared to exert a large amount of energy to find it. Roll up your sleeves. Get ready for a workout. Don’t underestimate the amount of time it will take. Don’t expect someone else to do it for you. Grit your teeth, as they say, and then get at it.

Let’s say that you need to make a major career decision. Well then, be sure to carefully consider what you are thinking about doing before launching out decisively in that particular direction. A lack of quality research now could be very costly down the road. Now is the time to get started. Now is the time to do your homework. And yes, I speak unfortunately from experience.

Lots of enthusiasm and a lack of knowledge is a bad combination. Little enthusiasm and a lack of knowledge might be even worse. But the ideal, of course, it to be well-informed and enthusiastic. Take the time, make the time, to become knowledgeable. Make an effort to learn as much as possible when faced with a big decision.

Did I mention that searching for answers will be time-consuming and difficult?

Life isn’t easy down here on the earth. Are there any inhabitable planets where daily life might be easier? Perhaps you have pondered this question looking up into the night sky after a very long day. Maybe someone has an answer. But as far as I can tell, we could be living on this one for quite some time.

Might as well make the best of it, I guess.

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