Each one of us carry within us a seed of greatness or a vast potential that is just awaiting to be unearthed and unleashed.
This can be represented mainly through our dreams, passion, talents, desires and aspirations.
Don’t lose sight and connectivity
The harsh reality is that in most cases, this seed or potential never get to see the light of day and are left buried in our graves.
Somehow as we grow older, we get caught up in the humdrum of making a living. We begin to sub-consciously or even consciously to do the things that we feel we have to, instead of doing the things we love to.
Gradually, we lose sight and connectivity with our dreams, passion and aspirations. These possibilities eventually become ideals and fantasies.
Our purpose in life is a life of purpose
On the onset, our purpose is not to live a life of self-indulgence where we use our God-given potential and talents only for our own benefit.
Our true purpose is to be a blessing by serving others by contributing to human society with what we have been given.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
We must understand that each one of us were created for this purpose, and the responsibility is on us to discover it. Unearthing and actualising this would ultimately bring us true fulfillment as we live a life of destiny.
Do all that you can to live it out
From the day we were born, our purpose have been calling out to us. As mentioned earlier, it is revealed through our dreams, passion, talents, aspirations and desires in our hearts, and as well as through the circumstances that have trained us to become who we are today.
The challenge is for us to keep stretching ourselves out from our comfort zones and to be courageous in charting towards the direction God is leading us. If not, dogma, people’s expectations, trends and status quo will define what our life purpose is and lead us towards a life of mediocrity.
As it is, we must do all that we can to keep those dreams alive by staying connected to them in all that we do and see as we draw closer to God through His word and prayer.
Only through Him can we be empowered to live out our purpose and to fully actualise our destiny as it is He who planted the seed of greatness and eternity in our hearts and minds.
Andrew: Inside & Insights 
With reference from:
1. “The Monk who sold his Ferrari” by Robin S. Sharma
2. “Discovering your life purpose in the secular” sermon message by Pastor Kong Hee
The monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin S Sharma: A Book Review
chillibreeze writer — Kavita
“The monk who sold his Ferrari” is a tale, which provides an approach to living a simple life with greater balance, strength, courage and abundance of joy. The fable format is a refreshing change from the tiresome listing of all the good things we could do for ourselves but do not. It makes the message being conveyed linger in our minds. Although most of the principles dealt with can be found in countless other books on self-help and spirituality, there is a difference in the way of Sharma has put things together.
This well crafted story by Robin S Sharma is the tale of Julian Mantle, a lawyer brought face to face with a spiritual crisis. Julian’s spark of life begins to flicker. He embarks on a life-changing odyssey and discovers the ancient culture of India. During this journey he learns the value time as the most important commodity and how to cherish relationships, develop joyful thoughts and live fully, one day at a time.
The eleven chapters are meticulously planned and flow seamlessly from one to the next. Julian Mantle, a very successful lawyer was the epitome of success. He had achieved everything most of us could ever want: professional success with an seven figure income, a grand mansion in a neighborhood inhabited by celebrities, a private jet, a summer home on a tropical island and his prized possession a shiny red Ferrari parked in the center of his driveway. Suddenly he has to come terms with the unexpected effects of his unbalanced lifestyle.
John, who is a friend as well as co-worker of Julian, narrates the story. He begins by describing Julian’s flamboyant lifestyle, his exaggerated courtroom theatrics, which regularly made the front pages of newspapers and his late night visits to the city’s finest restaurants with sexy young models.
Julian Mantle, the great lawyer collapses in the courtroom, sweating and shivering. His obsession with work has caused this heart attack. The last few years Julian had worked day and night without caring about his mental and physical health. That helped him become a very rich and successful lawyer but took a toll on his health and mental state. At fifty-three he looked seventy and had lost his sense of humor. Julian refused to meet any of his friends and colleagues at the hospital. One fine day he quit his law firm and took off without saying where he was headed.
Three years passed without any news from Julian. One day he paid a visit to his friend and former colleague John, who was now a cynical older lawyer. But Julian, in the past three years, had been miraculously transformed into a healthy man with physical vitality and spiritual strength.
Following his heart attack Julian Mantle had sold all his property (Yes, his Ferrari too) and left for India. The author tells us about Julian’s Indian odyssey, how he met the sages of Sivana who had a life changing effect on him. Julian Mantle shares his story of transformation, his secrets of a happy and fulfilling life with his friend John. Julian describes Sivana- a small place located in the Himalayas, the land of rose covered huts, placid blue waters with white lotuses floating, youth and vitality, beautiful glowing faces, fresh and exotic fruits. He tells John about the sages of Sivana who knew all secrets of how to live life happily and how to fulfill one’s dreams and reach one’s destiny.
Julian relates his experiences with yogi Raman the leader of the sages of Sivana and the person who taught Julian his secrets of a happy and fulfilling life. He narrates to John the fable that contained the seven virtues for a life abundant with inner peace, joy and a wealth of spiritual gifts. He tells John the techniques that he learned from yogi Raman on how to master our minds with simple techniques like “the heart of rose technique” and “the secret of lake technique”. He tells John how to cultivate the mind and how to use setbacks for expanding knowledge of the self.
He talks about setting and following our own purpose and teaches John the ancient art of self-leadership with techniques such as “do the things you fear” and “the 5 step method for attaining goals”. He waxes eloquent about the value of self-discipline and respect for time. He describes techniques such as “the ancient rule of 20” and “the vow of silence”. He teaches how to focus on the priorities and thereby maintain a balance and simplify life. He gives examples that prove that willpower is the essential virtue of a fully actualized life.
Julian teaches John the virtue of selflessness in serving others. He asks John to embrace the present and live in the present – “Now”, never to sacrifice happiness for achievements and to savor the journey of life and live each day as his last one. At the end he asks John to spread these secrets for the benefit of other people. Embracing John like the brother he never had, Julian leaves.
For the reader who might be in the rat race for material success and money, this book might be food for thought. But the message is a trifle too clichéd and the lectures too pedantic for the reader who is more or less conversant with the principles and insights garnered by Julian Mantle from the sages of Sivana. The presentation in the form of a story redeems the book to some extent. The book might perhaps be more satisfactory for readers who are unfamiliar with and hungry for oriental wisdom. All in all, a book of wisdom.
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Book of wisdom with “the heart of rose technique” and “the secret of lake technique” & how to cultivate your mind ?????
Prov14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Ha ha… I was expecting you to comment on that.
I haven’t finish the entire book yet, so do await for my review on the book for my “response” =)
Hee Hee… Thank GOD that you came back safely….
There’s many more problems out there on the mission field esp if everyone plants their own brand seed of “greatness”…
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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18.