Weapons of Mass Distraction

I wish I could take credit for the title of this posting but alas, it belongs to an anonymous scholar. 

I was watching a lecture series entitled, "What Matters," by Oxford scholar, Os Guinness, and he mentioned the quote. 

At one point an Oxford student was interviewed and asked, "What lies at the end of life?  How will you know if you've accomplished your purpose?  Her answer was, "I don't know. I guess if I have a lot of good stories."

Most of the students said that they really didn't have time to think about life's purpose in the long term.  Everything was focused on getting through school and moving on to a future career (whatever that may be). 

Living "in the moment" is an understandable answer, especially when one is consumed with studies and deadlines. But one must be prepared for the long view if one wants to be successful at fulfilling a life of purpose.

Honestly, there will always be an "in the moment." Your new job will consume you, email, Facebook, or Twitter. Something will distract from the larger purpose of life.  

A life of purpose is not some random or personally planned out path. It is the desire of God for your life. It matters not what subject matter one desires to study. The greater question is, "Can I glorify God in this, contribute to the betterment of humanity, and propel forward the ultimate mission of God, i.e. the reconciliation of all things toward God?

It is life with a greater purpose; a life with divine motive. 

The greatest hindrances to those objectives are the "weapons of mass distraction." The chief culprit being, "busyness."  

Someone said that "busyness" is either the result of pride or an unreasonable, unorganized employer. There is probably a bit of truth in both. Either way busyness will keep us from stopping and asking the "why, "what," or the "who" questions. "Why am I here?" "What am I supposed to be doing with my life?" "Who am I ultimately accountable to?" 

"Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile" is not the way to go through life. I don't want to "hope" by chance I fulfill my purpose; I want to know that I am fulfilling my purpose. 

And yet, here I am, 52 years of age, still asking those questions. Perhaps that's the divine intent. Every year I should find the time in my busy schedule to be asking those questions of purpose for divine alignment. 

After all, I don't want to end my life with nothing more than a bunch of good stories. 

I want GREAT stories...