We are often oblivious to our own real purpose in life. Even if we are on a path and things seem to be going excellent or things seem to be cloudy.
We can be in a career, in a marriage, in a city living in an identity that we believe, in that moment, is what we are supposed to be doing, living and being. But just around the corner, there could be an entirely alternate reality existence for us that is the real path. It can all change in an instant of a conversation, the reading of an article or like for Vincent, the Bible.
Your entire existence you could be believing that the world was flat. Your grandfather, your great grandfather … everybody built their whole lives around the Earth being flat. Then one day you venture out and discover the Earth is round. Your whole life changes in that instant and now you’re on a completely new path that you never even knew existed. Is that possibility scary to you? That you might not be living in your true existence? I’ve heard the term parallel realities. The way it was explained to me and the way I interpreted this concept is that right now in this very moment, there are other realities of me that exist. And at any moment I could leap into that alternative and feel just as right as in any other. Which reality is the true one? I get an innate feeling that they’re all “the right” one.
Nothing is “wrong” which also makes me think about choice.
We live from choice to choice.
I could change my mind right now and that’s completely OK. I think a lot of times we get stuck in a reality and believe that we owe. Why does what you think matter so much to me? Disappoint … fail to fulfill the hopes and expectations of someone.
We believe that there’s a betrayal at stake.
To someone else. Not myself.
We feel we’re betraying other people. The identity they built for us. Which are often rooted in their disappointment in themselves. Carrying other people’s crosses they couldn’t muster up the confidence, courage, audacity, forgiveness… to carry. Now we’re stressed out, feeling lost, heavy and out of place trying to heal, materialize someone else’s burden! So sad when I think about it because you’re not serving your life’s purpose with that mentality. There could be an entirely different reality for you out there existing. Waiting for you to leap into it where you’ll actually be happier.
The people who you feel you may betray can’t utilize as a scapegoat any longer.
There’s a whole galaxy of people who are your actual assignment. They weren’t placed on you … you were placed here for them. They are waiting for you to take that leap so they can be benefactors of your courage, of your love, of your service, of your gifts. And the people who you’re scared of betraying, they would actually benefit from your leap as well because now you’re operating in your gifts. You’re a surging power source not a draining battery to be leached.
It makes me think about how when we feel there’s a betrayal at stake that we’re shrinking our capacity. Vincent said he started reading the Bible and what he learned about what Jesus Christ was saying about servicing the less fortunate changed his life.
I’d be interested to have a more in-depth conversation with him to learn what that moment was like when his spirit leapt to that holy realm. To go from studying history to shepherding the loss. His capacity greatly expanded when he chose an alternative path. To go from never considering the homeless to somebody that cares so much he sleeps in a tent, gladly giving his bed. That matters, caring for people. We all need saving.
Who can we save today? And it may not be in the capacity of Vincent. Your leap into a holy realm of infinite capacity may be servicing cancer patients, children all around the world, the disabled, the autistic, widows, gangs, prostitutes, the imprisoned, the learning challenged, sexual abuse survivors, adopted children, veterans ….
There are many people who need our care. There are many atrocities that need to be brought to the light. Vincent is one person. You are one person with a greater capacity. I ask you, what is your life’s purpose?