The On-Purpose™ Proverb

Bring your best to light so others can shine.

When you excel you inspire others to dream of what is possible for generations to come.

Think of Tour De France seven-time winner Lance Armstrong who sparked an entire movement in competitive cycling in the US. Through his dedication, training, and triumph he set new standards in cycling for his teammates and competitors, alike.

Chris Evert, one of the greatest women’s tennis champions, once said that beating her competitors was becoming so normal and expected that winning was actually feeling routine. She was delighted that Martina Navratilova came along to challenge her. It helped her to take her game, dedication, and conditioning to the next level.

Strive for excellence but do it with humility. Here I reflect on the movie Chariots of Fire when Eric Liddell says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure."

Run fast into your purpose. This is what you were designed to be and do best. It pleases God and you’ll also find a smile on your face. As you reflect today and into the future, you’ll see others lighting the wicks of their purpose from the light of your candle.

Bring your best to light so others can shine.

The On-Purpose™ Proverb

Adversity is one of life’s great teachers dressed in disguise.

“What good can come out of this?” you ask while pondering your present problem. You’re thinking, “It’s horrific, terrible, the worst thing that has ever happened.” A heavy dullness leads to the clincher questions, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this? What hope is left?”

Consider John Walsh, the father of Adam Walsh and host of the TV show America’s Most Wanted. On July 27, 1981, John’s six-year-old pride and joy, Adam, was abducted from a mall. Two weeks later the boy’s head was found in a ditch. Adam’s killer has never been brought to justice. Adam would be thirty years old this year.

Yet from this tragic circumstance, John and Reve Walsh founded in 1984 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Hope! How are hurts transformed into hope? How is crisis turned into contribution? The fifth book of Romans (NIV) encourages us to “…rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Adversity is one of life’s great teachers dressed in disguise and leading us to character, hope, and love. Yes, greatness can emerge from adversity.

The On-Purpose™ Proverb

Neglect a garden for a week and the weeds will over take the flowers. Neglect your dreams for a day and busyness will overrun your life.

Weeds are easier to grow than flowers. There’s a life lesson here: bounty and beauty take effort. To tend to what matters most we have to be willing to get on our hands and knees to get a little dirty with the pleasures and pain of hard work.

Are you feeling discouraged or overwhelmed? Chances are that unwanted weeds of busyness have entangled your soul and choked your dreams. Feelings of being overwhelmed are taking you off-purpose.

Here’s what to do to be back on-purpose. Everyday do a little weeding of your unwanted habits that occupy your time but are not advancing your life. Give care and feeding to the flowers of your life. Weeds will always be with us, but by tending the flowers and eliminating the weeds, your desired dreams can blossom in time.

So yank those weeds out by the roots. Focus on the flowers and cultivate your life to bloom abundantly.

By Kevin W. McCarthy