Navigating Struggle, Uncertainty and Crisis, Part 1

Leadership Series for Navigating Struggle, Uncertainty and Crisis, Part 1: Purpose and Meaning, with Rev. Pat Bessey

Sunday’s message was about purpose and mission. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention someone who has purpose and mission in his life and that is Bill Taylor. Sunday after Sunday when I arrive at church Bill is already in the kitchen making the coffee for Coffee Hour. To those who do not know Bill, he is a beloved congregant at the young age of 99. Up until two years ago Bill kept the lawn mowed at the church. He did have to give that up when he was no longer able to drive himself. Bill reminds me often that his purpose and mission is “to keep moving and be grateful.” I would also add and “be of service.”

A question for you… what is more important, food, or purpose and meaning? The overwhelming response to this question is purpose and meaning. Think about this: We are the only species on the planet who can commit suicide even when all our physical needs are met.

This series of talks I will be doing for the next eight weeks will be addressing our non-physical needs that take precedent over our physical needs. This comes from the work of Paul K. Chappell of PeaceLiteracy.org.

Paul makes this suggestion as an exercise for this week: Invest some time in reflecting about one or more of the following questions (journaling might help), or discuss these questions with your friends and family.

• What is your higher purpose in life?
• Do you have more than one higher purpose?
• How can your higher purpose strengthen the relationships and communities that you are a part of?
• If more people in the relationships and communities that you are a part of had a greater sense of higher purpose, what would be the advantages of this?
• Are the purposes in your life connected to a higher purpose? If so, in what way?
• If someone has more than one higher purpose, can these higher purposes conflict with each other? What are examples?
• If you are in a leadership position, how can you inspire in others a sense of higher purpose?

Next week the focus of another non-physical need will be “nurturing relationships.”

You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey