Sometimes We Must Step Into The Nightmare Of Another In Order To Fulfill Our Purpose!
Finding and living a life purpose is something most of us hold dearly. It begins in childhood when interested adults ask us, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” We have all kinds of answers. Generally those answers change many, many times along the way. When we enter high school, the question takes on a bit more weight. Our answers often reflect a childhood and adolescence spent trying on various professional costumes to she which one fits best. As we graduate high school we have options – military, job market or college are the most common ones. This “What do want to be when you grow up” question tends to find its answer on the “BE” side of the equation.
Rarely does the question approach the “Purpose” side of the equation. In all fairness, asking a question of a child or adolescent that deals with life purpose likely never crosses our mind. Perhaps one reason is that many adults fail to ask that question of themselves. During my time on this planet, I have discovered that many times a question of purpose comes only after the experience of some life tragedy or difficulty. People who have faced the ugliness or trauma or confusion of life often ask such “Purpose” questions. Sans life challenges, the “Purpose” question can take a fortune or fame track. Sometimes, people believe that their purpose is simply to possess fame and/or fortune.
There are times however, that regardless of the framework in which the question is posed, the answer takes us to places of discomfort and service.
You see, Sometimes We Must Step Into The Nightmare Of Another In Order To Fulfill Our Purpose! Human suffering and misfortune are all around us. At times, this suffering and misfortune appear overwhelming! When this happens, we often find ways to ignore, deny or avoid acknowledgement of such. And then . . . there are other times – the times when the discovery of our purpose is tied directly to the nightmare of another. It is then that mustering the courage to step into the middle of that nightmare becomes life’s greatest challenge. Stepping into that nightmare carries no guarantees of success. Stepping into that nightmare carries no assurances of safety. Stepping into that nightmare carries no predictable outcome. The only thing that stepping into that nightmare guarantees is that we fulfill our purpose.
So, the next time you are faced with the possibility of stepping into the nightmare of another, ask whether this might be tied to fulfilling your purpose in life.
Peace!
Mark E. Hundley
If you are interested in reading more about stepping into the nightmare of another, I have a short story entitled DarkLight. Please feel free to visit the following to download the story. Amazon Author Page
