457: The Barometer of Purpose

I was sitting in the radio studio with my headsets on, ready to be interviewed to promote a school where I am a board member and professor. I had gone over the questions with the show host and we were ready to go. The red light came on, indicating that we were on the air and the host looked at me and asked a question that wasn't mentioned in our briefing. "Dr. Stanko," he asked, "how would you define success based on your purpose teaching?"  I was stunned and obviously had to come up with an answer quickly.  After I answered, his telephone lights erupted, and my 20-minute interview turned into 60 minutes. We never got around to talk about the Center.  

WHAT DID I SAY?  

I responded, "I define success as doing what you love and finding work that gives you joy." Just those two simple phrases touched so many listeners that I received phone calls at my office for two weeks after the show from people who wanted advice or to share personal stories. Since that show years ago, I haven't changed my definition. In fact, I feel more strongly than ever that you should do what you enjoy as often as possible for as long as possible.  

I recently ran across a verse that reminded me of what I said on that show:     

"Therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy" (Hebrews 1:9).  

The oil of joy - what a great phrase that is!  That oil of joy didn't refer to preaching, although Jesus preached.  It wasn't about teaching, although He taught. It wasn't about healing, but certainly Jesus healed.  All those magnificent activities were byproducts of the anointing, and the anointing was found in the joy that Jesus felt and received when He obeyed the Father and did all those things.

JOY THE BAROMETER  

Joy is the main indicator and barometer that indicates whether or not you are in the will of God.  If you feel joy when you play the piano, then play.  It's that simple. If you sense joy around children, then connect with as many children as possible. If you love to sing, then sing in every venue and on every opportunity you have. It's not about money, prestige, fame, salary or health benefits.  It's about the sense that you are doing what you were created to do - and you know that because you have joy.  

I love to travel. I enjoy meeting with people one-on-one, in small groups or before large crowds to talk about purpose. I've traveled 3.5 million miles since 1989.  Last week I got a charge out of being in five airports, even though I've been in airports hundreds of times before.  I can't explain it; I just can't ignore it.

What can you do this week to capture this joyful anointing? 

First of all, you can stop fighting it.  You can embrace it and confess to yourself and others, "I am happiest when I am doing this or that."  Then you can stop trying to manufacture joy where you don't find and probably won't ever find it.  Finally, you can be honest with yourself. If you are not joyful, don't pretend you are. If you are, I want you to dive in and swim in it for all the world to see, as if you were a beautiful tropical fish in a large aquarium!

I am no one special. I think God wants you to have the same joy I regularly experience.  So stop fighting it and go with the flow, the flow of anointing and good work that comes from doing what you love to do. Use joy as your barometer to gauge the purpose level of what you are doing. As you do that, I know you will have a great week anywhere and any time you find yourself immersed in the work you love.

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PETTICOAT PROJECT:  I posted an update concerning my work in Kenya on my blog.  I am returning in August and will announce in the next week an exciting new project to help the orphanages have some ongoing revenue.  For now, you can read the latest report and see some pictures here.

KENYA VISIT:  I will be back in Kenya from August 12-20 to once again conduct a Pacific Institute seminar along the Pacific Institute's youth program called PX2.  If you are interested in investing in yourself to receive the best training I have ever been associated with, please drop me an email and let me know.  It is not cheap, but it will change your life!

Comments

[Lynette John]

Awesome, I have been receiving the Monday memo for about 7 years and I think this is the 3rd time I've read it, this word 'purpose' was also spoken yesterday in church and now at 04:30hrs in the south coast of England, I have read it again - why? because you were the only one of facebook this morning!