A little over a month ago, I wanted to do my own experiement. So, I listed a need for people to respond to — for review of my resume. I hoped I could get some solid feedback that would help generate some new job leads.
One day, I met a person who said they’ve helped dozens of people get jobs and turn their career paths around. Excited about my potential, I was eager to hear what he had to say.
The meeting didn’t go as well as I had hoped. I disagreed with too many of his suggestions and thought his advice wasn’t very credible. Really, who wants to read a four page resume?! I left the appointment and brushed his words off my shoulder while I laughed at some of the comments he made in that hour. I think I failed to mention the conversation I had the day prior with a guy who has been in HR for over 12 years. He was among a handful of people who have told me if they were hiring, they would call me for an interview. His advice was for me to sit tight and keep my eyes open. I’m on the right track.
The right track that is, until my experience started to get slammed by a guy who actually didn’t know that HR is short for Human Resources. A few days after our meeting, he sent me a few emails. In it, he asked what it was I really wanted to pursue in life. He analyzed some affilliations and recalled our conversation and he suggested that maybe I should pursue a new avenue. Then he quoted my favorite set of words, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”
His criticisms of my resume were harsh, but he did remind me of my greatest hope in life.
Do what makes me come alive. I have some good ideas of what those things are — I’ve just always been afraid to chase after it. Until I get an email from a friend who is looking for a glimmer of hope or in her words, “happy/uplifting/encouraging/SOMETHING” to remind her of the beauty in the person she sees in the mirror. Cause, that’s the person I see when I look at her. If she was facing me right now, I’d remind her of our five steps to believing God and then I’d make her recite them with me as she counts them off on her hand. Then, I’d remind her that I’m not sure I’d be doing what makes me come alive if it wasn’t for her constant encouragement and love.
I come alive when I find ways to make life less difficult for another. To you my friend, take a look at your pile of stones on the other side of the Jordan that has grown from small handfuls to a big memorial that makes people stop and ask, what those stones mean? You, are a living memorial of the workings of God in your life.
I think I see the sun trying to make its way thru the clouds…
You, make me come alive.