Warrior Truth: “Show love in everything you do.” 1 Cor 16 v 14 (CEV)
Loving what I do has always been important to me. It has driven so many decisions and actions I have made over the years. While some of them have not necessarily been good decisions, they have been made with love at the centre. A recent conversation with a dear friend made me realise just how much this really meant to me, not just in my personal capacity, but in my professional capacity too. He helped me connect the dots back to love. It was as if a spotlight had been shone on an area that had previously been masked in shadow. The shadow prevented me from seeing the work side of love.
The body of work around finding one’s passion and purpose in what you do seems endless. We tirelessly look for the sweet spot between passion and purpose, justifying what we do and desperately hoping to connect the two as we go. Today, I know that the sweet spot is love itself. When we do not love what we do (completely, in everything), we burn, we hurt, we lose.
A role change at work was spurred on by the recognition that I did not love what I was doing. Yes, there might have been elements that I enjoyed, but holistically, I did not love what I was doing. Every day had become a struggle. I did not like the person I had become, uncreative, heavy-hearted and desperate for escape. Thanks to God’s favour, the opportunity opened up to move into a new role which seemed to offer a far better fit for me. In reconnecting with what I love to do at work, I feel lighter, I feel renewed. I feel as if I am laughing more. I feel as if I still have value to add. I am more grateful for who I have in my life and I am so much more conscious of how I show this love.
God is the God of love! Why should love only be on a relationship agenda. Why not apply love to the things that we do each day – where we are, where we show up, where we serve. Without love, we are only noise and have no real substance. With love, we shine. Love is long term – it is not a fad, it is not just a feeling. It is certainly not frivolous. It is our heartbeat. It is the reason we can look forward to the future with hope (regardless of the difficulties we might face.) It is the reason I do what I do – because I love what I do.
Warrior Tool: Loving what we do does not mean everything we do is easy. Love requires effort, investment, and attention. As I peeled back the layers of emotion, frustration and expectation from my life, I inspected every area in search of an answer to the crisis I found myself facing. I see now what I was doing was a love audit – searching for the evidence and existence of love. With His grace and guidance, and support of family and friends, I was able to face some of my giants head on. I could stop running away and start running towards the author of love. I could do what (and all) I love once again.
Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank you for designing us as beings fuelled by love. Thank you that we do not have to settle for anything in our lives that we do not love. Thank you that love brings meaning. Where we are missing meaning today Lord, show us the way of love that we might walk in it and in your favour once again. I pray that you heal those who have loved and who have been hurt in return. May they know Your perfect love today. Amen
With God, For His Glory