Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Purposefulness (Purpose in Life) (05/25/06)
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TITLE: The Preacher Man | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Huckstep
06/01/06 -
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The preacher man said, “Pray and ask God , He’ll reveal His plan to you my son.”
I went about doing what the preacher man said, I prayed, I begged, I cried, I waited for something, anything, but God was silent.
I went back to the preacher. “God has not shown me his purpose for my life. I’ve prayed, I’ve begged, I’ve cried but God is silent.” The preacher man asked, “Have you fasted? Go home, fast, pray and examine your life. God will show you His purpose.”
That night I started my fast. As my family sat down to eat their dinner I stayed in my room and prayed for God to show me His purpose. I fasted and prayed four days but God was silent.
I went back to the preacher. “I’ve fasted and prayed but God has not shown me His purpose or His plan for my life!” The preacher man said, “Be patient, God will show you His purpose in due time. You can’t rush God.”
It’s been twenty years now, The preacher man has retired but I ran into him while hiking one day in the mountains.
“Preacher, How are you? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
“I’m doing fine, now that I’m retired I have time to hike and enjoy God’s wonderful creation.”
“How about you? Have you found God’s purpose for your life yet?”
I replied, “I think God has forgotten all about me, I’m still in the same job, doing the same thing, It’s been twenty years now and God has not moved me.”
We stood in silence for awhile as the preacher man digested my words. Then he looked up and pointed to a large pine tree in the forest.
“Son, look at that pine tree, how many times has God moved it? God has never moved that tree. It’s purpose is to stay right where it’s at and glorify God where it was planted. It looks at God all day long and welcomes all the birds of the air as they rest from their journey’s flight. Sometimes God’s purpose is for us to bloom right where we are planted.”
God said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Son, did you know a tree falls the way it leans? A strong tree grows straight up to the sky. The weak trees are the ones that begin to lean away from the sun. They will eventually crack and fall to the ground.” God’s purpose is for you to walk the straight and narrow path. Do not lean to the left or the right but trust in God no matter what happens in your life.”
I thanked the preacher for all his wisdom and as I began to leave I asked him one last question.
Preacher, “How come you like those trees so much?”
He chuckled and quoted a saying from Willa Cather:
“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than any other things do.”
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