Hey Friends! No pictures in this post- but you should still read it!!!!
Some of you are about to think, “Here she’s goes again.” But hopefully there are at least a few of you out there who need and want to hear this today!
At our church we have “community groups.” We meet in a person’s home with a group of 10-20 people and do different spiritual studies. Well this semester my group is going through a study called “Nucleus.” Bascially, it takes you through a bunch of questions and conversations to help you figure out how God made you completely unique and set you apart for a specific purpose. As you can imagine, this study is right up my ally! I believe God is a God of love, and he doesn’t just give us a purpose, but he gives us a passion for our purpose! He wants us to enjoy life, and to be able to show and share that joy with others! How can you share love and joy if you are miserable because of your career?
I feel like I have a couple of different callings on my life. One of them is to design. I love designing. Nothing makes me happier than to see a room come together just as I pictured it in my mind’s eye. I find joy, fulfillment, purpose, and encouragement as I pick paints, choose furniture, and come up with creative ways to make each room as unique as the person using it. I get up every day and am excited about the job that I get to to do.
But I also feel like I have another calling on my life. In our study, the leader stated that a great way to figure out your passion is to know what gets your heart beating faster. What topics of conversation are you completely engaged in? When you go to Barnes and Noble, which subject matter to you head toward? All great questions to ask if you’re trying to figure out what your passion is. So, we covered those answers and we came to the next question in the book. It said “If you could snap your fingers and know that you could not fail, what would you do?” Well, as soon as the question was read and people started answering- “I’d be a nurse,” “I’d open an orphanage,” “I’d want to help others eat healthy” . . .my heart started beating out of my chest! I wanted to scream (in a helpful encouraging way, not an annoyed, harsh way) “Then, let’s do it!!!!” These things you’re looking at as dreams can become goals. They can be achieved!
I feel I am called to to help others realize they can achieve their wildest dreams! They You can do anything you set your mind to! I want to help you realize your potential.
After the question that got my heart pumping, then came a question that got my blood boiling. Ok, not boiling, but I was pretty annoyed with it. The question asked- “If there were no obstacles (money, education, ect) and you could dream your biggest dream, what would you want to do?” I understand that the goal was just to get people thinking about what their passions are, but to me this question is not reality. There are always going to be obstacles, nay sayers, set backs, and failures. . .ALWAYS. Even when you’re doing what you’re made to do, not everything perfectly falls into place. But here’s the thing- when you are pursuing a God given passion and purpose, the set backs don’t keep you from moving forward or trying again. The key is to find something you love so much, that you continue to work at it, even when it’s not easy. There is always “work” involved, but when you love what you’re doing “work” takes on a whole new meaning. Your “work” becomes your “calling.” Merriam Webster states that work is: “the labor, task, or duty that is one’s accustomed means of livelihood.” A calling is defined as: “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.”
Do you see the difference there? Work is strictly physical or mental. A calling brings in an emotional and spiritual element. Work supports you, a calling spurs you. One is performed as an obligation to survive while the other is an opportunity to thrive. Work impacts the present, a calling impacts eternity. I believe that our work and our calling should be the same thing. We spend 1/3 of our life “working,” so why not make it something we not only enjoy but that will have a lasting impact? You know you can instantly tell when someone hates their job. They’re cranky, crass, and cold. But the person who loves their job can share a smile, joy, and maybe even Jesus with the people they come in contact with.
Right now, the best way I feel like I can help others is to share this message and to continue to strive toward my own callings. And hopefully as I achieve different things, people will be inspired by my story. It won’t be a story of instant success and easy living. It will be a story of faith, failures, hard work, set backs, perseverance, victories, and a belief in something bigger than myself. . . . Because, really. . .a story without all those things is just boring.
So, what does your story look like? It’s time to make your work and your calling one. . .don’t you think?
To me, Kara, I have a bazillion different things that I enjoy and that I am GOOD at. That “gets my blood pumping” so to speak. My problem is that I cannot seem to figure out what I am GREAT at. My calling has not been so clear to me as it seems to be for you.
I’m not sure if I’m speaking for others by saying this- but for myself- have to say that I envy the clarity you’ve been given.
Hey Justmissy5! My calling was not always as clear as I feel like it is today! And I know Tim would say he struggled for a loooooooong time until he figured out what we was called to. But I feel like we both pursued that clarity with fervor and eventually found it. It took Tim a little while longer than me, but eventually he found it. And now I feel like I can say his calling is as clear as mine. Also, I feel like you have to make a choice. Greatness doesn’t just happen. It’s something you have to choose. You have to work to be great at anything. So, maybe you should choose something you love and try to be great at it. You may find you don’t love it as much as you thought. . .or you might find that it is in fact, your calling!!!
Ha! I love how God works!! I REALLY needed to hear this today. I’m building a business while working a full-time job — and lately, it’s been a bit difficult (well, building a business always is, but recently, more-so). Things aren’t happening as quickly as I’d like, our efforts haven’t had the results we hoped for, mixed with a million other obstacles has left me silently wondering if the goal is worth it & if I should just accept the 9-5 as the way things are. Mostly, I know I’m having a little pity-party and I know that my hand-cutting fingerprints out of paper idea & my creativity is absolutely God-given.
Thanks for both the reminder & the challenge to keep at it and believe in the passions God has given me.
Kara, I really enjoy your blog posts on this matter, even if there are no photos. 🙂 I feel a lot like Justmissy5 said above…I’m very lost because there is so much that interests me. But I appreciate what you said in response; it’s great food for thought. It helps me get a little closer to finding my “calling”. Thank you and please keep writing these posts from time to time. You inspire me. 🙂
Lori, first off your art is so so cool! I do believe your perseverance and hard work will pay off. I’m right there with you in wishing things would happen faster, but at least we can take heart in the fact that God (the ultimate storyteller) is weaving together an amazing testimony through all of these circumstances! I am so glad that you found some encouragement in this post! Keep it up friend! 🙂
Stacie, thank you for letting me know that there are people out there who enjoy when I post on this topic. When I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, almost all things creative interested me- photography, jewelry making, painting, ect). I tried each of these for a time and slowly began to cross things off my list of possible careers. I found I enjoyed those things in moderation, but I did not have a passion for them. Finally I got to interior design and found that “thing” that made me want to stay up to the wee hours of the morning, dreaming and planning. Keep searching- you’ll find your calling. I believe that with all my heart!
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Thanks for writing such an great, inspiring post! It totally got my blood pumping just thinking about it and actually made me a little teary eyed just when I thought about my true passion.
Hi Kara! This post was quite timely today. I have been having a conversation with God lately about my passion and purpose. I am a nurse but lack passion; design lights my fire!
My question is: do you ever have any internal conflict about focusing most of your passion & energy on something that is truly not important in the light of eternity? I tell myself that interior design is such a 1st world job. There aren’t many struggling nations that have interior designers, they just want a roof over their head and food on the table. Have you ever had conversations with God about this kind of thing?
Please don’t read this as a personal attack…it’s really just what’s been in my head for myself and I don’t really know the answer. I would love to hear your thoughts! -Emily
Hi!
Just wanted you to know I love this post too. Found you randomly while searching for concrete-ing a wall, but have been reading along because I think we are two peas in a pod 🙂
My hubby and I like to cover everything in concrete…we make concrete coated tables, counters, art and wood patterned tables/art for our etsy shop (www.builtconcrete.etsy.com if you are curious). I also love to blog about DIY and home improvement projects (www.diy-my-homes.com).
But can’t seem to choose a true passion, or maybe I have too many passions?! 🙂 I have my real estate license, love renovating homes and inspiring others to DIY equally as much as helping others to start and grow small businesses. And My husband owns a sports performance training company.
All that to say HELLO and thanks for sharing on one of my favorite topics.
Kelly
Wow, this is so inspiring! I love it! Keep shining His light as you share your creative talents with the world!
Thank you for your constant encouragement! Your story and enthusiasm to help others achieve their dreams truly comes at a time that I need to hear this. I need to know it is possible and that it is what God wants for me. Thank you!
When you get teary eyed thinking about it- you know you have found that thing you were made to do! So happy that you know where your headed, now just work and don’t give up until you get there! 🙂
Hey Emily! I am soooo happy you asked this question. This is something that I have asked myself and I know it was something Tim struggled with for a while. Our thoughts were: If you’re totally sold out for God, you have to be in the “ministry” or be a missionary. What I believe God has revealed to us is that: Our work is our ministry! Real ministering doesn’t just happen in the church, it happens outside the church. . .where we interact with non-christians as well. And the truth is I really do believe that design makes a difference in people’s lives. I believe that the atmosphere you are surrounded by can shape who you are. That is why when we are designing a space we really try to figure out who that person is and how we can celebrate their life thus far and use design to encourage them to go after the dream that God placed in their heart! (Hopefully that thought came through in the sizzle reel.) I believe God put a specific passion in each of us and when we are living out that passion, that is when we look most like our God! For example, God is the ultimate creator/artist and he put just a smidgen of that ability in me! How blessed am I?! So, when I am using and honing that ability, I am honoring that characteristic that he chose to impart to me. To not use it, I believe, would not only make for a passionless life, but for a less meaningful spiritual connection with my creator. Ecclesiastes says, “There is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work.” To “enjoy” doing something day after day, I think you must have a passion for it. The joy that I receive from working out my passion allows me to look like Christ and hopefully effect others. Lastly, I believe God cares about design. If you look at the passages of the tabernacle, every detail was laid out. It wasn’t a purely functional place, it was immaculate! Nature itself is a testament to how much God cares about design! His sunsets are breathtaking, his landscapes inspiring. He placed flowers and foliage for functional reasons, but he also cared enough to make them beautiful. The agates and the crystals, the coral and the ice caps, the sculpted mountains and the engraved canyons. . .it all hints towards the fact that not only is their an ULTIMATE CREATOR, but he cares about what he has created. He cares about design. I count it a huge blessing that I was born in a place where is it much easier to live out my passion. Don’t spend time fretting over the fact that someone else may not be able to do what God has placed in their heart. If God has put it there- he will provide a way! That was probably way more than you wanted to hear. . . but as you can tell, I have put a lot of thought into this specific question. Design on, my friend- work out the passion that the God of the Universe has put inside you! You have no idea the blessing you will be to others as you do what you were created to do Emily!
Kelly! So nice to meet you! If you have more than one passion, I think that is terrific! As long as you are loving your day to day and feel like you are on the path God has for you, than why not sell real estate, renovate, and start small businesses!
I’m excited to look through your projects! Yay for concrete! 🙂
Thank you Steph!
Rachel, I am so happy that you felt encouraged by this! I truly believe God sets a passion in our heart and always provides a way to live out that passion. It does require some work on our part, but it is absolutely worth it!
Gosh where do I begin with how much I love this post?! Thank you so much for sharing. I have actually started a new blog and business for what I feel is my calling and although it isn’t missions or non-profit work, I feel that refurbishing furniture can be a beautiful way to give back! I’m really hoping that others recipricate that feeling once I start the business. It’s just nice to know I’m not alone with my everyday struggles!
Happy Weekend,
Amy V.
http://marilynsuedesigns.weebly.com
Hi Kara,
Thanks so much for this post. I love your blog and your design style, and now it’s great to hear your heart and to hear where you’re coming from spiritually 🙂 I work full time in music ministry for a church, and am developing a passion for design as I slowly but surely make over our home one DIY project at a time, and I’m grateful for the inspiration you provide, so thanks for all you do!
I’ve been working through some of these issues myself recently, and we’ve been tackling the whole concept of gifts & talents & calling on the podcast I co-produce called Music with a Mission. This week’s episode of our podcast (Pastor William Carrol Interview: Gifts, Talents and Calling) is a great listen for anyone trying to understand their calling: http://www.tscnyc.org/music/radio-podcast.php
If you scroll down you’ll also see two episodes from February called What Are Gifts & Talents? Although the podcast is primarily geared towards musicians & music lovers, these discussions really do apply across the board, especially for those of us who are artistic & creative on one level or another.
Thanks again!
Jessi