A Bit of Candy

photo from Candy Chang's blog post: Before I Die

As the day goes on, how often do you become overwhelmed by the multitude of things that need to be accomplished, people that need to be chatted with, emails that need to be answered? I am certain that the list each of us 'needs' to do would be enough to fill an entire blog post! In this day and age, time is no longer possible as a leisure (though that was the initial hope from mechanization of daily processes), but as a necessity to determine how profitable of a mover and go-er each person can be.

Everything moves so quickly!

Certainly, we love it when our machines mover quickly. Have you recently tried to use a computer built in 1990? It can be very frustrating, as you might expect it to move at the same speed you are trying to, which tends to be very fast for such an old computer.

Does this mean that we ought to move quickly through our lives, as well? Some might argue that there are too many things to be done, so it is not possible (financially or otherwise) to slow down.

I disagree. Time might keep going through the day and night, with the sun falling behind the distant horizon and the moon and stars becoming visible in all of their splendor, but that is no excuse to try and move time more quickly. Everything was created by God with a timing and a rhythm, in a way that is beyond our understanding of beautiful. Why else do you think that, after days upon days of running around, when you finally grab a small chance to relax, it feels as if a giant weight has been lifted from your shoulders? I would think that it is because you were fighting the beauty of your life's timing, so you had placed an unnecessary burden upon yourself to go against how you were made!

Focusing on what needs to be accomplished each day is certainly a helpful mindset. What, however, might come from focusing on what you want to accomplish in your lifetime? In the entire time you have to live?
Do you think you might stumble upon God's purpose for your life?
Would you then pursue it?

It is hard to live with the end in mind. It is even harder to encourage others to do the same.
While I do not profess to know her purpose, Candy Chang has created an incredible space amidst the sorrows of New Orleans in an attempt to help people focus on their dreams rather than their present problems. It is a beautiful project, and I would recommending checking it out.

In living where you are right now, surrounded by the same people every day, how could you encourage change? What project could you pursue to encourage others (along with yourself) to live with the end in mind? How could you help others find the purpose that God has for their life?
How might you help others believe they truly have a purpose?

Comment below or send me an email: I'd love to hear your thoughts!