Purpose – the reason for which something exists or for which it has been done or made
Evolution – the gradual development of something into a more complex or better form
In Through Painted Deserts, Donald Miller remarks that if we don’t change, if we don’t evolve, we expire.
Foods have expiry dates that are often quite premature. We tend to be paranoid about expiration when it comes to food. We don’t want to eat something bad, moldy, or stale. Nightmares of sickness swirl in our heads when we see a date long passed on a cereal box or a carton of milk. And yet, when it comes to ourselves, while we each come with an expiry date – our time of death – so often we give ourselves an early expiration. There are many literal ways that this is played out in this world, but for most of us, it is a metaphor. Simply stated, we can become stale. In life, we can embody a state of expiration.
Many times, I have heard people (myself included) say one of the following phrases: “I’m not going anywhere in life.” “I don’t know what I am meant to do.” “My life is over.” “I don’t know if this is the right path.” The list goes on. Do any of these phrases resonate with you?
The moment we verbalize these things, we allow ourselves to assume that our purpose has expired. We are no longer productive members of society. We aren’t employable. We don’t have anything to give, no special talents, nothing unique. We are moldy bread sitting on the pantry shelf.
It is in these moments, and all moments, that we need to remember that our outer purpose – what we do - is entirely dependent on our inner purpose, and a purpose that we share with all of mankind, which is saying ‘yes’ to what the Now has to offer. If we could find fulfillment in something within us, and not something on the exterior, our expiration date would come at its natural and divine time. As soon as we are reaching beyond ourselves for a sense of purpose, whether it be to other people, material goods, wealth, status, or labels, we will find ourselves dealing with expiration date after expiration date, because as we discussed last week, everything eventually comes to an end. This too shall pass.
Accepting change, and allowing ourselves to evolve, is important to avoiding early expiration. Another important practise is to make choices based on their evolutionary potential. Ask yourself if your job, your relationships, your lifestyle, your interests, and your choices are helping you to evolve. Are they for your betterment, or are they keeping you stagnant?
Life is much more of an adventure when we become friendly with the unknown. You can live it that way, or stink up the fridge.
These words are inspired by Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose (Oprah’s Book Club, Selection 61)
© Meghan J. Ward, 2008
