⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

Romans 12:5-7 [NKJV]

Hey guys, it is officially 60 days. I know that it doesn’t exactly mean that it’s exactly 2 months since the day that I’ve re-committed to this daily bread routine, but it is normally how we estimate time right? So yeah, it’s officially two months since I’ve made that decision to do this in my daily life again. And since that time, I have experienced God’s grace and blessings in ways that have exceeded what I could’ve hoped for. In that time since, God not only sent people into my life who would help me, but He would also provide me with a full-time job, a goal that I had been a very long time to attain. While some people might be tempted to belittle the experience and think that I’m being over-melodramatic, I know that this hasn’t been a small thing for me. Far from it. Until you have walked in my shoes and experienced the kinds of struggles and pain I had to endure, you wouldn’t be able to fully imagine what it feels like. So yes, I am feeling extremely grateful and appreciative for everything that is happening in my life right now.

Going Back to Why I Started This Journey in 2014

With today’s daily bread passage, it is very clear to me that God is trying to bring me back to the very reason why I chose to begin this very journey of following and pursuing my passion back in Sep 2014. I made that decision to leave my then full-time job behind because I was tired of living my life just as a way to please others, or to fit in like everyone else, and yes, I was tired of just trying to please my own parents. I knew that at some point in my life, I would have to make that decision to be responsible for my own life’s choices and how I want to live it, or the kind of future that I want to have for myself, and not based upon what others tell me I should be doing with it. I may not be a parent myself, but if I were to have my own children someday, I would want the very same thing for them. Yes, I would always want the best for them in life, but I also want them to go out there and discover life for themselves. I want them to go explore and figure out what brings them meaning and purpose in life. To figure out what they feel deeply passionate about. This is something I know that I can never decide for them.

Many people in my life including my own parents were actually against the idea of me following my passions. It as like I was trying to rock the boat, going against the status quo. But for the very first time in my life, I was finally ready to decide for myself and to choose my own path in life. Now, clearly, when I first began this journey back in 2014, I had seriously no idea of where it would all lead, or how long it was going to take, or the kinds of personal sacrifices and pain I would have to endure in order to finally be able to live/walk according to whatever that purpose for my life is. All I knew then is this, I told myself, “I’m 32 now, when I was 42 and looking back on the last 10 years of my life, I won’t want to live with the regret of not knowing what could’ve been. And then wondering to myself what would’ve been if I had only tried.”

Seeing that my 42th birthday is only a few months away now, it’s exactly the 10 year anniversary of what I’ve told myself back when I was 32. And when I am looking back right now, I am so glad I took the leap of faith and I made the decision to risk it all in order to follow and pursue my passions. With everything that I get to do today, I am finally at the early stages of walking in my purpose. A calling that I believe that God has for my life at this period of time in my life.

God has Given Each of Us Different Talents/Gifts

I believe that is what today’s passage is here to remind us of — that God has given to each of us a different set of skills, talents and gifts. We have been blessed with different gifts and talents in our lives so that we can be a blessing (and at times, of service) to others. I’ve learned this lesson a long time ago that God is very careful in how He picks the kinds of talents and gifts He gives to each of us, and then it is up to us to go figure out and understand how we can use those talents and gifts to fulfil the purpose that He has given to us. Like I have written and shared in a previous entry before, I do believe that it is possible for some of us to have more than single area of passion or purpose in life. I don’t believe that we’re only supposed to be looking for just one. And everyone’s circumstances and life experiences will be very different.

“But I don’t know what my passion is…”

When I first began my journey back in 2014, I had a pretty good idea of what my passion is. I was ready to pursue it to the ends of the earth. I was so sure of myself. I thought I had it figured out. But later, in 2017, after an early setback in my journey, I would find myself feeling unsure of myself. I had a lot of self-doubt and I was beginning to question if I really understood what my passion and purpose in life is. I was lost once again. I would then spend the next few years trying to rediscover myself yet again. It wasn’t until the pandemic happened that I really understood that my calling and passion hasn’t changed. The pandemic showed, not just to the entire world, but also to me that my talents and gifts in UX and front-end development can still be of value and use. That I can still be a blessing unto others with it.

Speaking as someone that was also confused and lost at one point in my journey, I know what it is like to be unsure of your passion in life. I think the only real advice I can share with you is to take that very first step to rediscovering yourself. Or in some cases, self-discovery. The first step to really finding out your passion and purpose in life is to first let yourself experience new things (or old things). I called it my “self-discovery” phase. In fact, though I started pursuing and following my passions in 2014, my real self-discovery journey did not begin until 2017~2018. Another advice I can share is that when you are going through your self-discovery journey, don’t be resistant to trying and experiencing different things (even if that makes you uncomfortable for a little while). It might not be what you’re passionate about, but sometimes, these little, brief experiences in your journey can help to spark something else too.

Finally, I think the last advice I can share is to be patient with yourself. Know this, everybody’s self-discovery journey and this journey of following and pursuing your passions can take months, some can take years. If I had to be really strict about when I first realized and discovered that I was passionate about UX, it was in Jan 2006. That is nearly 20 years ago. It has taken me nearly 20 years to reach this point where I’m at. And yet, I know that I am still only in the beginning stages of finally walking in my purpose and passion.

Anyway, for this subject matter, God knows I can go on and on forever. Also, this is like my secondary purpose/calling at the moment. UX and front-end development being the first/primary. I believe that I have a purpose in helping others to discover their own passions in life and to lead their own purpose-driven life. I’ve been thinking about the idea of calling myself a “purpose-driven life coach”. But I have no idea if that is how I should be doing it. I suppose God will speak to me about it. I believe He will direct my steps on how to proceed with this.

Personal Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for speaking to me about something as fundament as leading a purpose-driven life. Thank You for bringing me back to the very beginning of my journey. The whole reason why I started this journey of following my passions and finding my “ikigai”.

Father God, I am extremely thankful that even though this journey has taken nearly a decade for me to get to yet another starting point, that You have always been with me, guiding me and showing me the way even when I had occasionally lost my way.

Today, I am feeling that deep conviction and purpose of wanting to help others discover their own passions and purpose in life. I have no idea how or where to begin, but I trust that You will guide me and show me the steps to take. I truly believe that You have blessed each of us with a different set of talents, skills, gifts and life experiences so that we could ultimately become a blessing unto others, to serve others.

Today, I pray and ask that You will continue to speak to me about my own purpose and calling, and show me how I can continue to be of service to others.

I vow to give You all of the praise and glory. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen.