Live on Purpose

I was in a truck with a pathetic excuse for a heater. It was one of the coldest nights of the year so far. My husband was driving…with the window down! We were traveling back in the mountains on snowy roads. He had an old sleeping bag in the back seat that he gave me for extra warmth. It smelled a lot like his favorite hound dog, who had recently ridden in this very passenger seat.

Believe it or not, I joyfully chose to accompany him on this excursion. He’s a hunter, from a long line of men that grew up literally putting meat on the table for their families. He was scouting a new area for tracks and food supply to decide if it would be a good place to hunt. This is what he loves, what he’s always done, and he’s very conscientious about wildlife management and humane hunting.

He asked if I wanted to ride along, despite the persnickety heater that blows with all its might but delivers very little hot air. I said yes, even though I was in the middle of scrubbing the shower (a hated task that needs to be done while I’m in the mood or I fear it won’t be done at all) because I thought of my new year motto, “live on purpose,” and how this would be a way to spend time with him in his element.

I am not a hunter. I am not a cold weather enthusiast. And by that I mean, I’m a wimp when it’s cold. And I don’t consider any activity fun that includes losing the feeling in my toes or nose. So I layered until bending was a challenge, topped it off with a particularly scratchy but warm, purple wool toboggan that I knitted myself, and off we went. Thankfully, we have been married enough years that I’m secure in my status as his other half – I dare say had he picked me up for a first date with me looking quite so….warm…..that I would have been invited back.

The woods were beautifully quiet. The drive was so long that the moon made its appearance before we completed our journey. It hung right above the trees, and we had a discussion again about the ‘man in the moon’ – I can’t ‘not’ see the face, while he has a hard time seeing it, declaring he doesn’t want to, because it will spoil the beauty of the moon for him. We didn’t see another human being, didn’t pass a single other vehicle. I did think that a caramel latte in hand would have completed my contented little cocoon- me, wool cap, blanket that smelled of dog, coffee…oh well, close enough to perfect.

My mind wanted to wander to the things I had to do, the things coming up in the week, the things I have already done….but I tried to stop it and just “be.” I couldn’t do any of those things at that moment. I wanted to just see the trees, the snow-covered road, the concentration on my husband’s face.
As stunning as the setting was, there was something even more beautiful about the comfortable, contented silence that dominated the trip. We enjoyed some conversation, some laughter, but mostly each other’s company.

This is my journey to live on purpose, to recognize and embrace my place of opportunity. Each opportunity. Each moment. Not always just where I’m going, but exactly where I am.

You, too, have a journey and a purpose.

Sometimes we forget to look for the beauty and live in the moment, especially when the moment doesn’t seem particularly spectacular. The mundane tasks of cleaning house, fixing lunches, reminding little ones which shoe goes on which foot, or the stressful environment of a job, the bustle of moving through the day from job to errands to dinner to homework to bedtime and then repeat….

These moments in and of themselves don’t remind us how incredible our lives really are. We must do that. Purposely.

My youngest daughter and I worked through an art course while she was in high school. I recall an assignment that had us envisioning someone we knew very well, and drawing their face from memory. The exercise wasn’t so much to point out our artistic shortcomings as our lack of observation skill. And boy, did it make its point! I chose my husband, a face I have seen daily and often for over 20 years….and before we were married, we were friends, so I’ve known him almost my entire life. You think you know what someone looks like until you have to draw the details of their face. (Try it and you’ll see what I mean!)

We go through our days, trying to get from one task to the next, trying to get to the hour when we clock out, trying to get the kids in bed so we can relax for one moment…and that’s o.k. But do we remember to look around and SEE what is right in front of us?

Do we soak up the concentration on our kids’ little faces while they’re coloring?

Do we look at our coworkers and see them as people on this journey with us, with their own struggles, their own heartaches; do we see people that could use a smile or word of encouragement?

Do we notice the stars at night and marvel at the magnificence of God? Do we marvel that He wants to have a relationship with each of us individually, when we seem so small and insignificant?

Do we enjoy the taste of our dinner, realizing many people are hungry?

Do we value the water that flows in abundance from our faucets, realizing that’s a luxury unknown to a lot of the world?

Do we see the smallest flower make its appearance after a long winter?

Do we take a moment to blow the seeds from the dandelion head?

Are we thankful for the health to work even, and maybe especially, when our bodies are sore and tired?

Do we look up from our phones to see the life that’s in front of us, or are we too busy creating a virtual and imaginary life?

Do we choose joy or absorb other people’s misery? And, do we create joy or misery for other people?

When facing loss, we often admit that life is short. And uncertain. But in the course of everyday responsibilities, we often forget to apply this wisdom to our lives.

If you’re reading this, you’ve been given this day and countless opportunities within it to live on purpose.

Don’t wait for your definition of perfection to appreciate your journey.
Look around and soak up all the beautiful moments that make your life uniquely yours.

Soak up the little laugh lines on your mom’s face.
Stop and pet the cat that meets you at the door after work and listen to her purr.
Sit amongst the legos and build a fortress without thinking about the clean-up later.

Notice the tiny wildflower that blooms alone – a sweet gift from your Creator letting you know that if you will only look around, He’s leaving love notes for you everywhere.

Live your life on purpose. Today. Right now. Right where you are.