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A CALL TO PURPOSE: BUILDING COMMUNITY
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another ~ Proverbs 27:17
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one
another. ~ 1 Peter 4:10
Last month, I talked about getting my priorities straight. This month, I want to share why writing
these devotionals (as well as hosting my new Practical Ministry segments on the Born to Fly
podcast) have moved their way to the top that list. But first, a little story…

It was around 2005 when I asked God to reveal His purpose for me. He responded with the following statement: “Live your
life; gain insight and wisdom; share your story; inspire others to do the same.” Even though I didn’t know God then the way I
do now, His description of my “purpose” has proven to be consistently accurate ever since.

Two years later, when I found myself going through a very difficult divorce, the only thing keeping me sane was my lifelong
practice of journaling. Because it was such an emotional time, I was worried that my writing would not be objective or that it
was merely an exercise in self-indulgence. I wanted a way to hold myself accountable to the truth, so I decided to start
publishing it as a blog called Process of Illumination. For the past 16 years, the practice of self-reflection, faithfully
documenting my journey, and sharing it in such a raw, authentic and vulnerable way has been the best means I know to
fullfill that purpose.

Fast forward to 2021 when Born to Fly invited me to start writing devotionals for their newsletter. Unsure whether my
writing style would fit that format, it required me to take a leap of faith and challenge myself. Very quickly, I came to realize
that having some structure to my writing is really beneficial for me. Not only am I able to continue to process my life through
my writing but by anchoring each piece with a verse from scripture, it helps me focus on the principles that God is
highlighting and apply them to my life more consistently.

But since I shifted formats from blog to devotional, it’s become so much more than a way to help me process and inspire my
readers. It’s a way to express my love, not just for God but for my community, as well.

Looking back on my life, it’s clear that I’ve always been a community builder at heart. God has blessed me with many gifts but
my greatest joy comes when I use them to help others. In addition to my writing and other “creative” gifts, I serve my
community as a Marketplace Minister, offering pre-marital & marriage enrichment classes and life coaching. I also officiate
life-cycle events such as weddings, baby dedications and funerals.
Some of God’s gifts are what we get paid for and some, like these devotionals, are not. The point is, He blesses us, not so we
can keep all his gifts and joy to ourselves, but so we can bless others.

We’ve all heard the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child”. This expression refers to an entire community working together
to ensure the growth and safety of children. While the members of our immediate family do shape our values, beliefs, and
personalities, the people that surround us (our environment), have a noteworthy impact on our overall health and
development. But we don’t have to be children to benefit from the effects of living in community. At any age, we can literally
improve the quality of each others’ lives.

So, my friend, what about you?
If using your talents for God can help you find purposeful work, share God’s love and build community, how is He calling you
to bless others? If your answer seems scary or unrealistic, it might be helpful to explore what life changes are necessary in
order to accomplish it.

Until we meet again, May God’s grace be with you.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you would like more information on my coaching or mentoring services, please contact me at
tracy@xolifecelebrations.com.

If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to subscribe to my blog at tracybrichards.com/blog.
For Wedding or Life Celebrant inquiries visit xolifecelebrations.com
For Marriage Prep or Enrichment sessions visit https://www.xolifecelebrations.com/marriage-prep-enrichment-sessions
For information about The Genesis Process visit https://www.genesisprocess.org/
Listen to my Practical Ministry segments on the Born To Fly Podcast here