Fulfilling My Calling

Responding to my devotional, The Word For Today by Bob Gass I knew I should write in my blog, however, I was pressed for time. I put if off until now. It reminded me of a line out of one of my favorite movies, "As Good As It Gets," starring Jack Nicholson, who plays an obsessive compulsive writer whose neighbor is a homosexual artist, who owns a cute little dog, which Jack hates, at least until this dog is forced upon him by the neighbor's friend.

Another main character in this film is the waitress where Jack regularly goes to eat. She's the only one who can put up with his peculiarities which are many, to say the least. I don't want to give away too much or I would spoil the movie for you, if you haven't already seen it and I certainly suggest that you do! She had been patient enough with Jack's idiosyncratic personality so that when her son becomes ill and she doesn't show up for work, he goes to her home looking for her. This leads to a series of fortunate events on her behalf and a personal connection between she and Jack. Jack and the homosexual neighbor developed a dependency as a result of the little dog and also the waitress meeting his neighbor.

An important line from the film which the devotional caused me to think of is when the waitress asks Jack to apologize and he tells her how he began taking a prescription medication for OCD because "You make me want to be a better man." She was taken aback and responded that his apology was probably the "best" she had ever had.

The Word For Today devotional title "Write the vision and make it plain" - Hab. 2:2 NKJV (Your Vision -- You Must "Find" It [2])

(1) What desires have been living in me most of my life?

(2) What motivates me to be productive?

(3) What keeps me going forward when I'm worn out?

(4) What makes me refuse to quit when I meet with resistance or opposition?

(5) What do I do that doesn't seem like work?

(6) What do I do that brings positive response and support from others?

(7) What am I doing, or what's happening in my life when doors seem to open automatically and effortlessly?

(8) What do discerning leaders and godly counselors think about my work?
(9) What makes me feel good about being who I am?

(10) What makes my creative juices flow?

(11) What am I willing to sacrifice to accomplish it?

(12) What am I doing that I'd be proud to offer for God's approval?

(13) What would I do without being paid, if I could afford to?

(14) What would I be willing to withstand Satan over, in order to accomplish it? What is God saying to you? It's not too late; "find" your vision and follow it! --

Bob Gass

That's an exhortation from both Bob Gass, as well as myself. Oftentimes, we search and search and don't know that we've found it when perhaps we're actually already fulfilling our God-given calling. We just have to accept the fact that "for everything, there is a season." If you've been given lemons, then make lemon-aid.

The next chapter (or date) of the devotional discusses how the Lord was with Joseph in all the trials before he was lifted up, second only to Pharaoh. So, sometimes we're being "prepared" for exultation through the "death" of our vision. We need to read the stories of some of the GREAT ones in scripture so won't grow faint-hearted and give up.

God bless you for taking time to read this:>)