This article appeared in the June 2014 edition of Creative Thought Magazine & was written by Reverend Dr. Christian Sorensen

 

Effort and Courage are not enough without purpose – John F. Kennedy

Without purpose life has no meaning.  Why put out the extra effort to deal with the commotion of this world if you don’t have a greater purpose than just survival?  Asking the deep question, what is my life’s purpose, calls forth the inherent soul’s memory for coming to this world. This kind of inner dialogue moves you from looking at the world of external form to the internal exploration of your personal guidance.  When grace opens that door, it’s private party time with God. When you leave this revelation, because you can’t stay there forever, you’ll no longer be satisfied wandering the same old terrain without deeper purpose. You’ll find continual divine encounters when you follow your call to purpose which can be a far more enjoyable experience of God than through the painful approach of fear.

As the desire to know your soul’s purpose stirs within, the controlling mind assures you don’t go too far in following it.  Control is its safety. As you play untried possibilities and the paths that call you to them. If you say yes, be ready for some aspects of your life to be reduced to ashes, whether it’s starting something altogether new or letting go of some old pains. Joyously living on purpose doesn’t mean you have to abandon your present world. What it does mean, however, is allowing that which is stirring within, beyond your reasoning to be recognized and remembered.  What it means is allowing your inner knowing to take charge.  It’s painful to have your urge to express your inner gift held captive by the so called constraints of your world. Your renaissance is waiting.  Your contribution is needed.

The most joyous people aren’t without issues, but those who know there is something within them  know how to solve them. Going nowhere faster won’t get you there. Do us a favor and let the purpose of your being shine like a diamond. It may take some soul strength to excavate your gifts that have been buried under the responsibilities you’ve accepted for doing life so far. We’ve all experienced moments in life that challenge our courage. Remember to consciously realign with the omnipresent life force because Spirit is seeking to express Itself as you. It calls Itself by your name. Your connection is a power beyond measure. If the issue is too small to take to prayer, then it’s too small to turn into a burden. You can allow a challenge to kill your purpose or unleash a primordial power you didn’t even know you had. There‘s a significant difference between someone who has a big issue and one who makes their issues big.

What’s surprising is at the end of a full and demanding day lived on purpose you don’t feel depleted but instead full; though maybe tired but also energized. When you dance, you let the music take over your soul. Let it not be about remembering your steps, rather, it’s about enjoying each step. When you are living on purpose, there’s a joy in the soul that brings a fulfillment with every step whether those steps are tough or easy. In the dance there is a faith which knows when to move and when to stay put in creating the perfect expression. When living on purpose it helps to have a faith to act and a faith to wait. Divine patience and divine action are two aspects that make up the whole equation.  It takes faith to trust both.  How long have you been living with doubt and not trusting the faith you are practicing?

Living on purpose is about your relationship with God. Living on purpose allows you to be in constant contact to the spirit moving and guiding you on the dance floor of life. It dissolves the incongruities between your desires, actions, words and behavior. When you get out of your head and back to your spirit guidance you stop wondering if this is your creative imagination talking. In that clarity, there comes a deep knowingness because the questioning mind is not in the picture. You just know.  You are given the image from a higher perspective that is not concerned with the logical how-will-I –make-this- happen scenario. Johann Wolfgang on Goeth wrote, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”

All heart is a bit too emotional to be walking this world all alone, all head doesn’t have the faith to muster up the forces to overcome the big challenges.  It’s the combination of the two that allows your spirit to walk this world supported and fulfilled. It’s from this transcendent state you are charged and energized to bring forth your vision. So stop waiting for God outside of you to do something about it and realize God is waiting for you to do something about it. Call yourself into a greater life by honoring the lure of your soul purpose. Following your soul’s purpose is far more fun than being motivate in life by fear.

You might ask yourself, how do I find my purpose? You don’t choose your life’s purpose, it chooses you. Quiet down all the inner chatter, and spend some time listening. You’ll find what turns you on and you’ll remember what excites your soul. When you honor this urge of the stirring of your spirit, there will be an insatiable ache that won’t be quelled until you say yes to your inner call. You are dreaming big because there is a bigger expression waiting to come through you. You’ll discover more of who you are when you follow the pull from within.  As a visionary, you’ve been entrusted with what others have not yet seen. Every new discovery and creation was first seen by someone before it came into form.

You are walking your path to reach your greatest capacity as you are created to thrive in what you are intended to do. You’ve been requested to join in the co-creative process with Life Itself and you’re a conduit to bring forth the divine expression into form. Be willing to go too far on this explorative journey rather than living the rest of your life regretting not having gone far enough. The more you honor this creative urge, the more evidence you’ll find that it is yours to do. Open the door and let Spirit carry you away and you’ll find the richness and blessings will far exceed your dream.

Personal Practices for Living on Purpose

• What is my life’s purpose?
• Where have you had pain rather than divine encounters realign you to your path?
• How does your controlling mind keep you from playing full out?
• How has your inner urge to express life been held prisoner?
• When has your life been turned to ashes and you rose to a greater experience of living?
• How did you feel when you overcame what appeared to be an insurmountable obstacle?
• What burdens are you forgetting to pray about?
• How does it feel at the end of a full day doing what you love?
• Where are the incongruencies in your life between what you say you want to be doing and what you are actually doing?

Reverend Christian Sorensen D.D. is the spiritual leader of the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living in Encinitas CA., last appointed President and first elected community spiritual leader for United Church of Religious Science. An emeritus member of the Leadership Council of the Association for Global New Thought and council Member of Evolutionary Leaders, Dr. Sorensen has authored 8 books including his most recent title “Joyous Living Journal” which he co-authored alongside Dr. Petra Weldes.