Don’t forget to feed your soul

Every once in a while I read a book that strikes me as profound. More commonly, I come across books which are mostly ordinary, but that contain one or two profound thoughts.

Years ago I discovered an ordinary little book written by Anne Ortlund that included one of those profound phrases. After a special moment of worshipping God she wrote, “This is what I was made for.”

That single phrase was worth the price of the book and what it represents has never left me.

There is something sacred about those moments when you become aware that what you are doing is exactly what God put you on Earth to do. They are life-giving.

The cynical among you will be quick to point out that unfortunately, external pressures often dictate that we spend an inordinate amount of time not on what fuels us, but on what pays the bills.

The bank doesn’t much care if we feel fulfilled, only that we make our payments.

That is one reason it is of such value for young people to figure out “what they were made for” prior to accumulating the responsibilities of a spouse, children, mortgage, car payments and so on.

The good news is that it’s never too late to find fulfilment. The even better news is that life-giving activities don’t require every waking moment.

Even lives significantly pressured by overwhelming responsibilities can find enough moments for an infusion of meaning and purpose to make all moments more meaningful.

The quest for utopia where we never have to do anything that doesn’t fill us with warm fuzzy feelings is a pipe dream.

All we really need is to discover and engage in enough soul-enriching activities that all corners of our life are impacted.

That is one reason I encourage everyone to pay attention to their own sources of inspiration.

I believe there are some activities that will inspire everyone while others will vary depending on each person’s make-up.

As a person of faith, I always emerge from times of worship encouraged.

To repeat Ortlund’s observation, there is something about worship that always fills my soul brimful.

There are also some scriptures that constantly call me to a higher level. You might not be in that place, but I’d be willing to bet that you are fuelled by even 10 minutes out in nature, or by a bit of exercise, or by the extremely satisfying feeling you get from helping another.

Facing the reality that none of us is self-sufficient and that we all need lifegiving moments to nurture our soul and offset debilitating pressure is a major step.

Gordon MacDonald re-tells the story of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom. The old slave had been wrenched from his Kentucky home and put on a steamship headed for unknown places.

Upon his arrival, while writhing under the cruel whip of his new owner, an observer was heard to say, “The blows fell only upon the outer man, they couldn’t touch his heart.”

There was something inside old “Uncle Tom,” an inner calling, an inner calm, an inner sense of direction that made external blows of little consequence.

I want to be like “Uncle Tom.” I need to ensure I have enough inside me to offset anything the outside might throw my direction.

Tim Schroeder is a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church and chaplain to the Kelowna RCMP and Kelowna Rockets.