What's Your Purpose?

While drinking my coffee, I rest one hip against the counter and watch my kids enjoying their breakfast.

Watch as they feed themselves and joke with each other, laughter filling the room.

My heart feels lighter just by being around these sweet boys.

I wonder about the kind of people they will become. I wonder about the trials they will face. I wonder about the successes they will have. I wonder about their purpose.

Which made me think about my purpose.

Ever think about your purpose?

Wonder what it is you are supposed to be doing?

Why exactly are you here on this earth?

(Wait! Don't go anywhere! Just hear me out.)

I'm not one who is normally prone to such substantial pondering but I couldn't help thinking about it the other day. 

And then I had a realization, an epiphany, if you will.

What if you are right where you need to be?

What if your purpose is exactly what you are doing right now?

What if your purpose is to be the best accountant, best teacher, best nurse, best mail carrier, best fireman, best writer, best chef, you can be.

What if your purpose is to be the best mother, best father, best husband, best wife, best friend, best sister, best brother, you can be.

We are not all called to cure cancer. Or solve the mystery of dark matter. Or locate the remnants of Noah's Arc.

Nor should we be.

If this was everyone's purpose, then how would we function as a society? Who would put out the fires? Who would do our taxes? Who would take care of the books in the library? Who would teach our children? Who would enforce the law? Who would deliver the mail?

So is your current purpose less honorable?

Can we be at peace with where we are right now?

Why can't this be a meaningful purpose?

I challenge you to be content with where you are in your life right now. I challenge you to look at your life with the perspective that you are right where God wants you to be (or whatever higher power you believe is in control).

Think about this.

You are the person you are today because of your genetics, your experiences, your successes, your failures, your emotions, your knowledge and your memories.

All of these things work together to place you right where you are at this moment.

This is not random. This is not accidental.

As Master Shefu in Kung Fu Panda says, "There are no accidents."

And I, for one, happen to believe him.