Lesson 22: What is Your Purpose?
Kentucky Division Chaplain Chaltas

How many of us can truly state that we know our purpose in life? How many can see the vision that lies before us? The Bible states that where there is no vision, the people perish. Schools have their mission statements and visions. Business have their goals and visions. The Sons and Daughters have incorporated their vision into their objectives. But do YOU know YOUR personal purpose, destiny or do you have a vision? In a website ministry entitled www.cryofthespirit.com they publish a monthly movie. One of the movies is called Purpose. It allows you to reflect for a moment on the needs within your life.

My purpose came crashing down upon my head through someone I didn't really care for. Someone I thought was a waste of my time. You see I used to work at a non-medical detox unit for Native Americans when I lived out West. I remember the first time I ever saw him. We had to go into these large culverts that ran under the railroad track and retrieve those that were in need of medical, non-medical care, or protective custody. Well we smelled him before we saw him. He was a small Native American with one leg missing below the knee (he had lost it when he passed out on the railroad tracks), one arm amputated between the shoulder and elbow and he wore a colostomy bag that he never changed or emptied. The vulgarities when we approached him were worse than the stench. Somehow we managed to get him into our unit and his disposition continued to be so unpleasant that I wished he would just leave! But he stayed and when I found his charts I was alarmed to see the number of times he had been hospitalized and how well he had learned to use the system. I did not care for this man and during one very disagreeable intake meeting my self righteous indignity erupted as I stumped out of the meeting. I went to my supervisor stating that this was a waste of time for all of us and this man would be better off left on the streets. I can still see the look in her eye as she stated, "When do you give up on the people? He has a purpose and we must help him find it." To my dismay I was assigned to him and my mission was to lead him to a Rehabilitation Center that would meet his needs. Well I knew that I first had to break the communication barrier between us for we both did not like on another. I made a promise to myself that I would do everything I could to be civil and reach out as one human being to another.

Several times he came in and then left without considering rehab. But on one occasion I was doing spiritual sessions and after the session I heard his voice call for me. That got my attention for he never asked for anybody only things. I went to him and we talked. I was soon to discover a very intelligent man beneath that hardened shell. He told me of his kinship and how he came to walk with the people. His eyes softened and I saw a spark that I had avoided seeing previously. I had just been informed of a newly founded Christian Rehab Center and I asked him if would be interested in going. He was receptive and I immediately went to my supervisor and she joyously made all the arrangements. His appointed time came and I thought of him on occasion but had human concerns that he would be back. And I was right. In about 90 days while I was giving the spiritual sessions, my supervisor came to me and stated, "You have a visitor." I went into the hall and to my surprise it was that one leg, one arm man with a colostomy bag. But he looked so clean, so at peace and then he smiled. He also had a knapsack around his neck and in the knapsack he carried a Bible. He spoke to me for a few moments and then asked could he speak to the people. I got the nod of approval and took him into our group. Now dear friends, there is something about a one arm, one leg colostomy bag carrying redeemed sinner that when he speaks, people listen. They knew this man. They knew what he was but now saw what he had become and the effect was electrifying. He had found his purpose! And there is no doubt in my mind that during his brief life after his salvation he did more for the people than all the centers, all the rehabs combined. For when a man finds his purpose it does not matter the amount of time nor manner in which he has arrived at the realization, he has found his destiny. The man on the cross beside Jesus found his destiny just prior to his death. And he gave us hope that it is never too late to find salvation. The world is a better place when our purpose is revealed. Seek yours and you shall find it. Be blessed this day and know that God will do for you what you can not do for yourself.