Colorado is a wildly beautiful and breathtaking place, especially in the fall. It brings about a special kind of beauty and chill. Not a frigid chill, like the kind you see in Mid-January, but it’s enough to get your attention. In fact, the higher the elevation, the more likely it is you’ll see snow. It was a given that I would stop and take in my surroundings on my morning hikes. The air was thin, making each step higher a task.
I wasn’t just hiking, I was searching. For what, I really didn’t know. I just knew it was out there, longing for me to find it, beckoning me like a weary traveler hoping to find an oasis. I found my perch high above a valley littered with trees, rocks and a stream. For nearly 4 hours I sat on the edge, peering out into the vastness before me. I prayed, listened, cried, stood up, sat down, walked back and forth, ranted, closed my eyes, and prayed some more. It had been a month since my real job had ended and I needed answers. What was I supposed to do with my life now?
Discovering My Purpose.
For 16 years I worked in a church, serving families. Since graduating from college in 1999, it was all I knew in my adult life. But now it was over.
Within days of my termination, people reached out with offers to serve in different ministries all over the country. Calls from Washington State, Oklahoma City, Maryland, and Michigan came in. The salaries were comfortable and the opportunities were appealing. By all accounts, and certainly on paper, it was looking like this was what I was supposed to do. All of my church friends told me so. People would text me or Facebook me just to let me know they were “praying for the right church to call me.” And to be honest, it felt good. It was confirmation that I hadn’t failed.
Something stirred in me though. The kind of stirring you get when you’re unsettled but certain you’re supposed to do something different, dangerous, but ultimately fulfilling. For some reason, my mind kept coming back to this blog and the many conversations Kristin and I had been having with frustrated and overwhelmed parents around the world. For as much as I prayed and thought about it, I didn’t feel content with the idea of going back to work in a church. I kept landing on writing and reaching out to families! The more I thought about it, the more excited I became about the future.
Stepping Off The Ledge.
And then it happened! I heard a voice telling me it was “time to jump.” Not actually jump. Jump into a new adventure. The fact that I was terrified and excited, and I had never really felt a mixture like that, was all the proof I needed. For 2 years previous I had poured my heart and soul into Confessions Of A Parent but could never fully commit to it because my time was committed elsewhere. That frustrated me. Now, things were starting to change. Our content was being read all around the world (15 different countries to be exact). Parents were finding hope!
More than that, people were reaching out to us, asking our advice on parenting, adoption, marriage, and family. Something was happening and it was exciting and more fulfilling than anything I was doing. I hiked down the side of that mountain sure of what I was supposed to do. Terrified, but certain. It was time to take this writing, speaking and authorship thing, that I had dreamed about doing for so long, full-time. My purpose was clear.
It’s been almost 7 months and we haven’t looked back. Confessions Of A Parent has grown to over 100,000 readers a month, and Kristin and I have been invited to travel all over the country and speak at conferences and retreats. All of this happened after I decided to jump. We’re healthy, our children are healthy, and our family is growing stronger every day. Sometimes the safe zone is too safe. Sometimes you have to jump, not knowing what will happen next, in order to discover what you were truly meant to do!
Are You Ready To Jump?
Maybe you’re stuck in a rut and you need a change. Maybe you were fired like me but you sense a calling to do something different from what you were doing. Maybe you’re in search of your true purpose like I was. If so, I want to share something amazing with you…
My friend Jeff Goins has written an amazing and inspiring book called The Art Of Work. Not only is this book packed full of amazing stories and motivating words, it’s also a complete brain-dump of everything Jeff went through to discover his true purpose and calling. I love this book. It’s one of the best when it comes to finding your purpose and passion in life. It has helped me and I’m certain it will help you. Whether you’re looking to change direction in small ways or in big ways, The Art Of Work will help!
Here’s what’s even more amazing: Jeff is giving away (that’s right, giving away) copies for practically free until March 23rd. All you have to do is pay the shipping cost and the book is yours. You can’t afford to miss this deal. Even if you’ve found your purpose and calling in life, pick up a copy. It will serve as confirmation and extra encouragement! So…if you’re ready to discover your calling and find your purpose, click the yellow button now…
What is your biggest question about finding your true purpose in life?
