Recently, after 19 years, Steve Perry – the former lead singer of the rock band Journey, appeared on stage at a concert in St. Paul Minnesota. I mean, he sang “Open Arms” for crying out loud! It’s the ultimate slow dance/make out song for many of us 40-something guys out there, right? (Admit it – you just flashed back to 8th grade Valentine’s Day dance too, didn’t you? No? Just me?)

What struck me as I watched the bootleg cellphone video of the performance was one thing – his smile. Even though the video was far from HD quality, you could tell he was genuinely having a ball. That it felt right.

Check it out for yourself here (language warning): 

I believe, in part, it felt right because Steve Perry was born to be a singer. His purpose in life is all about making music and telling stories. He smiles because he can’t help it.

Then I think about how awesome it feels when I know I am where I am meant to be doing what I was made to do. This happened to me recently as I met with a coaching client. We were ending a 4 month engagement, wrapping up our time together. This client said to me,  “You have done a great job in taking the words that I said and helping me see them from a different perspective and for drawing out of me what I did not know was there.” Something inside me just screamed, “YES! This is what you were born to do!”

And I smiled. Because I couldn’t help it.

But it almost didn’t happen. For the better part of 20 years now, I have felt like I was wandering. You see, at 14 years old, I knew what I wanted to do, what I believed I was meant to do. But for whatever reason (and really, there are lots of them – another post, maybe) pursuing the traditional route of a minister – seminary training, church staff, traveling to a mission field (all of which I have done at one time or another) didn’t seem like the place I was supposed to be. Instead, I became a husband and then a dad. I worked because like many others, I like food. And a roof. And clothes. But I didn’t necessarily think that my “career” was where I was supposed to be.

It makes me think about the years that I feel like I have wasted in not “doing” or “being” what I am meant to be. It is so easy to start living in that place of failure and shame. I’ve spent too much time down that road. I have the bruises to prove it.

The funny thing is, when I stop to look back, I see God’s hand at work in the lives of countless people He has brought into my path for a specific season and a specific reason. Even my mother said to me just the other day, “You have ministered to so many people even though you aren’t in ministry.” God always accomplishes His purposes. Always.

What I have come to understand, is that God does not see life the way we see life. At 45 years old, I’m not past the halfway point on His timeline. He is working for the eternal purpose in my life. And I’ve barely scratched the surface. So I’m all in. I’m after His purposes in and through my life and the timeline be damned.

This is why lookdeepercoaching.com exists. I am pursuing my purpose. I don’t have it all figured out, but I am committed to the journey. I would love to help you pursue your purpose as well. If you’d like more information, click on Contact at the top of the page and fill out the form.

You are not past the halfway point, either. It’s not too late. God is at work. He longs to accomplish His purposes in you and through you. Come on, what were you born to do? It’s time to start doing that. It’s not too late.