by Jacki Dorris

I just dated myself, but we're probably familiar with that famous scene in Edward Scissorhands (1990) where Dianne Wiest portrays an Avon Makeup Sales Representative. In an attempt to boost sales, she ventures out to the odd house at the end of the street to sell some makeup. That was her initial calling. Yet, as the film progresses, we see her calling profoundly shift in a way she could never have imagined. She helps to encourage Edward (Johnny Depp) to find his purpose. Would he have found his purpose had he never met her? Was she placed in his life to unearth a longing, a calling, he might never have known? How similar is her story to ours, do you see yourself in her shoes? This begs the questions- how do we know what our TRUE calling is? How do we discover our true purpose?  

How many times has the Avon or the Mary Kay lady, or the BeachBody coach, or the It Works guru prided on finding YOUR calling? These MLM companies create a billion-dollar business by helping YOU to find YOUR purpose. Consequently, YOUR purpose also helps fund THEIR purpose as they sign you up for the "team" effort. These companies are highly skilled in promoting personal development as a means to discover YOUR purpose. I will admit it is easy to get swept away with the business of investing in yourself. As cliche as it sounds, there is great growth from a willingness to pursue your purpose. Unless, of course, finding our purpose is much simpler than that. 

As infants, we come into the world, knowing what our purpose is NOT. We are NOT designed to be hungry (cue mother's milk) or cold (swaddle, please) or lonely (bring on the snuggles). We soon realize that we are not meant to be quiet if we need something – the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  

Spiritual Gifts

At what point does the desire to find our purpose become more sophisticated? I dare ask the age-old question of nurture vs. nature? Does our environment shape our purpose, or are we born with an agenda bound to surface sooner or later? As a believer in Christ, should we not lean heavily on our initial design? Our design stems from 1 Corinthians.

God's various gifts are handed out everywhere, but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere, but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's different expressions of power are in action everywhere, but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful:

Wise counsel

Clear understanding

Simple trust

Healing the sick

Miraculous acts

Proclamation

Distinguishing between spirits

Tongues 

Interpretation of tongues 

All these gifts have a common origin but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what and when.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 (The Message)

Our purpose, our deepest desire, can easily be understood when we look through our Creator's lens. Consider the surgeon that felt led to go into the "healing" profession. Consider the Financial Advisor that felt led to provide "wise counsel" for those who struggle in that area. On the other hand, consider the Educator who has no business in the classroom but may be better suited as an interpreter in some fashion. Are there plenty of people in professions or walks of life, not accessing their spiritual gifts, and that are successful? Absolutely! Are these people maximizing their full potential? I wonder? We find our purpose, our joy, in living out our spiritual gifts.

How easy is it to pinpoint these spiritual gifts? You've taken all of the Facebook quizzes to reveal your celebrity Husband. You know how many babies you will have in 2021 and which remote island you are supposedly going to retire to. Where's the Facebook survey for finding our spiritual gift? Where's the link? I need the link! I have good news and bad news for the Boomer to Gen Z's. There is no link. Actually, there is. 

Numerous links claim to help determine your spiritual gifts. In fact, Job took the online survey and realized he had increased faith. Judas' enneagram revealed he was a loyalist. Exactly! These "surveys" were not around in biblical times. There has to be a universal way of finding and utilizing our spiritual gifts. A way in which the Apostles in the Bible, tribal members in the Congo, and the Amish in Pennsylvania can all access.

In this compilation article, with a contribution by Kathy Howard, you will find helpful questions to ask in pursuit of your spiritual gifts. However, she does warn to be careful of the man-made survey and tests that promise to identify your gift, as they can limit the work of the Holy Spirit. 

It's a big temptation to follow something concrete and "human" like a test rather than depending on the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we aren't careful, believers can easily fall into the trap of making spiritual gifts all about us instead of the Giver. We ask, "What can I do for God? How can I use my gifts and talents?" When instead, we should be asking, "How does God want to use the gifts He gave me?"

Fellowship

As we surround ourselves with others, Believers, and Non-Believers, our spiritual strengths emerge. You sit in a congregation and hear the Pastor ask for volunteers. You attempt to help park cars on Sunday morning and realize THIS is not your calling. A different opportunity presents itself, and you find yourself mowing the church lawn, teaching Children's Church, counting the offering. Such volunteer opportunities can seem mundane, but rest assured, our Creator is using you to build His Kingdom. He is establishing His purpose for your life as you make yourself available to serve. 

God does not bestow upon us spiritual gifts to sit at home and live our faith in comfort. The first step in finding your spiritual gift is to make yourself available. The cross, where an opportunity presented itself, is our greatest visual. The cross itself has four points. The vertical post of the cross represents our relationship with the Father. The horizontal post represents our relationship with His people. Therefore we are called to commune and serve, and through this community, we find our calling. Often, as we serve, others will notice our gifts well before we do. Listen to those around you when they compliment or encourage your work in the church, for this very well can point to your spiritual gift.

Many of us find what is NOT our calling, long before we settle into our true calling. Our true calling, our purpose, aligns with our Spiritual Gift and our willingness to use it to further His Kingdom. This is the only way we will ever find purpose.

Just as the Avon Lady sought out to change the world, one lipstick shade at a time, we too can continue to lead our daily lives, careers, and goals resting in the knowledge that God is mighty enough to use us in even greater ways. If we are forever in pursuit of His calling and using His gifts, He will reveal opportunities daily. Just be available.

Resources

We’ve created a free downloadable PDF to explore the article deeper. It contains discussion questions about the topic in general terms that will give you a jumping-off point for beginning a conversation.

The second page contains a way to see the topic from a biblical perspective.

And finally, to go deeper into the subject, we have chosen a few curated resources to explore from other authors’ and thinkers’ research or perspectives.

Read. Engage. Enjoy!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Depending on how a gem is held, light refracts differently. At B+PC we engage in Pop Culture topics to see ideas from a new angle, to bring us to a deeper understanding. And like Pastor Shane Willard notes, we want “…Jesus to get bigger, the cross to get clearer, the Resurrection to be central…” Instead of approaching a topic from “I don’t want to be wrong,“ we strive for the alternative “I want to expand my perspective.” 

So, we invite you to engage with us here. What piqued your curiosity to dig deeper? What line inspired you to action? What idea made you ask, “Hmmm?” Let’s join with our community to wrestle with our thoughts in love in the Comment Section! See you there!