There are sooooooo many books that have been written in the collective categories of self-help, finding happiness, or what it takes to be successful that it can be hard for any one of them to stand out. From person to person, it often depends on what we are seeking, how we establish our priorities, what gives us a sense of fulfillment, and how these factors align with the context and approach of any resource or author.

Suzy Welch offers a recent book with the title “Becoming You, The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career”. While it is secular in nature, she speaks about transcendent moments that create a feeling of being “exquisitely alive”. This occurs when we experience an intersection of our values, our aptitudes, and our interests. Welch describes one such moment when she had the opportunity to teach as a professor in a university setting. Fulfilling that role, being in that environment, and having the desired effect on her students through their growth and interactions, resonated with her inner instinct that this was what she was meant to do.

I can recall having that congruence of feelings in certain moments of preaching, or offering meaningful pastoral care, or being a part of impactful community engagement. As people of faith, these instances create a divine synchronicity that rises from the deepest parts of who we are. We feel more connected to God, our neighbor, and the fundamental aspects of life in our community and world that are within our realm of understanding, and perhaps beyond. There are several references in scripture that can frame our individual and collective relationships as children of God, and as brothers and sisters on the shared road of life, which point to exquisite living.

Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 13:11-13 that part of the transition from child to adult is developing a greater understanding of who we are through Agape love, by which we become connected with our One, True God and our many, many, many neighbors. “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (NRSV)

We begin to live life to the fullest when we follow the guidance and protection of Christ. John 10:10 speaks of Jesus describing his role as the Good Shepherd, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (NRSV) The abundance Jesus offers is exquisitely alive when we align our values, aptitudes, and interests with contributing to God’s Kingdom work. From that, we see our existence as more than just living, but living with a divine, exquisite purpose. These moments are often organic in nature because as much as we “plan our future”, the reality of what tomorrow will bring is always a mystery. Therefore, when these planets within our being align, we must be alert and ready to see, claim, and build upon them.

May we continue down the road of life following our Good Shepherd, and sharing in the fullness that comes from being exquisitely alive!

Forward in Faith,

Rev. Dr. David Weatherly