Well, Really, I'm a Secret Spy - A 5 Step Guide to Finding Your Purpose
Almost without exception, we all want to know our purpose. It’s one of those universal questions we ask ourselves again and again over the course of our lifetime, gnawing in our gut. “What am I here for?” We want to know we have value and meaning. We want to know we’ve made a difference, that we aren’t just taking up space and sucking up air. We want to know that we matter.
This question eventually comes up with almost every client…especially those approaching or in the midst of middle age. “I don’t know my purpose. What am I supposed to do? What does God want me to do? I don’t know who I am anymore!”
This we have in common – our souls crying out to know “What was I created for?” These initial questions are often helplessly followed by, “I don’t have anything to offer,” “I feel powerless,” “I don’t even know what I want,” or the most common (usually accompanied by great shame), “I should have gotten that degree. I’m limited.” (Can I just say, a degree doesn’t guarantee you will encounter your purpose. God isn’t limited to a degree! Sorry, just had to get that out of the way – rant over).
Could the answers be in front of each of us, shouting from the roof tops? Could it be that we’re just not looking or listening? That we’ve lost our ability to see, dream, imagine and dare? Have our imaginations and dream muscles atrophied to the point of non-function?! Has comparison paralyzed us?
My g-babies, Reid (5), and Elias (2 ½) have incredible imaginations. I mean, IN-CRED-I-BLE. They will spend literally hours playing all sorts of games that only require air, mobility, curiosity and dreams. There are no limits. There are no boundaries.
It’s very typical when they come over for a visit that they will spend hours (usually with their Poppie) building pretend cities. Yes, cities. They hammer, they saw, they arrange and rearrange; they call lumbar yards and building supply stores; they negotiate prices…it’s endless! The final result may be your run-of-the-mill city made of stone and wood, or one that is more complex, filled with rockets and other space paraphernalia. To the average on-looker, there’s nothing to see. But I know the truth…they’re creating a masterpiece.
But it doesn’t stop there. They take trips to the moon. They venture below the ocean in submarines. And they bravely go into the jungle to encounter all sorts of wild beasts. There are no limits. No one telling them “That won’t work,” “That doesn’t make sense,” or “That’s silly.” No one shames them by bringing up the fact that they haven’t yet gotten a degree. They are empowered. They are creative. They are having a blast! Their imaginations amaze me.
So it makes sense that recently, on a field trip of preschoolers and elementary-aged children to an apple and animal farm, when a much more mature second grader asked “Reid, are you in preschool or kindergarten?” Reid’s responded with, “Well, really…I’m a secret spy!”
Makes perfect sense.
This is the point where you may ask, why are you telling me this story, Cammie? Are you just wanting to demonstrate how cute your g-baby is? Well, although he is extraordinarily adorable, no, that isn’t the point of this story.
Reid knows that he isn’t limited to being a little boy who just happens to be in pre-school. Being in preschool is only his COVER. It’s not his real identity, nor is it his true purpose. When we look at him, we may see a cute little blonde-headed pre-schooler. But when he looks in the mirror, he sees a Secret Spy.
The point is Reid is living in the fullness of who he was created to be. He hasn’t been told yet that his imaginings don’t make sense, or can’t be done, or are silly, or he’s wasting his time. He has not yet begun to compare his dreams and ideas with the dreams and ideas of others. He is free from the limitations of trying to be who the world is telling him to be. He is free to be God’s creative child.
Reid’s real mission, his real purpose, his authentic identity (at least at this point in his life) is beyond the shadow of a doubt a 100% Secret Spy. And he got there by not listening to reason; not listening to anyone who would tell him that he really isn’t a spy, or that he can’t do spy things, or that he can’t go to spy places, or that he can’t solve spy mysteries, have spy adventures, or meet other spy kids. Because Reid’s determined to be who he’s dreamed himself to be in this season of his life – a genuine Secret Spy!
We could all learn something from Reid.
Because on the outside we may look like administrative assistants, teachers, business leaders, pastors, coaches, Uber drivers, housewives (do we still call it that?), househusbands (keeping things equal), beauty consultants, small business owners, mechanics, pharmaceutical reps, doctors, lawyers, insurance Agents, or Amazon employees…
But that’s just our COVER.
Under our cover, our authentic, God-ordained purpose is to be Jesus to others; serve the needy; help the weak; encourage the depressed and the oppressed; assist the elderly; listen to the hurting; crochet the shawls; feed the homeless; love when we’re in the position to love; bless when we’re in the position to bless…and do it in a way that is creative, energetic, authentic, wild, limitless, strange to some, nonsensical, and boundary-less – not being tethered by cant’s, shouldn’t’s, and wont’s. Not limited by negative, discouraging talk – whether it be spoken by others or by the committee in our heads.
That’s our purpose. TO BE JESUS.
And there are a zillion different creative ways to do it.
How do we even begin?
First - Stop the helpless, defeating talk – whether it come from others or yourself. Shut your inner critic down and take back your power. Give it a name and tell him/her to SHUT. IT. UP! (think Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own, “Put a sock in it, Doris!”)
Second – Ask God to ignite and heighten your creativity! Yes, it’s that simple. Ask. God. For. Help. Then sit back, engage your faith and begin.
Thirdly - Start a DREAM JOURNAL – journal about what is most important to you - your values, passions, ideas, dreams, and inspirations - with absolutely NO LIMITS! The crazier, the better! Ask Him to show you things you’ve never considered! Get those “dream muscles” going again. They’ve been dormant for far too long.
Fourth – Ask Him for a plan. Ask Him for increased faith, courage and determination! Ask Him to connect you with the right resources and individuals who can help you put into action what He has shown you. If needed, partner with a coach or spiritual director with whom you can share your ideas, help you lay out a plan, challenge you to get going, and hold you accountable.
And Finally – Engage. Do what God is calling you to do. He is the Source for your answers, creativity and ideas. You are not excluded. He is the Source to understanding. He is your Source, period. Your plan may not make sense to others, but it makes sense to Him.
Your purpose, my friend, is Jesus. How you play it out, is up to you. It’s powerful and it’s empowering! It’s creative and it’s crazy! It’s daring and it’s dream-filled!
Who knows? You just might be a Secret Spy.
