I’m a very goal-oriented person- I love working for certain things and then being able to check them off my list. I enjoy feeling like I am working towards something that is bigger than myself. I think that’s why every day of my life I’m either stressed out or bored- there is no in between. I’ve always got something going on.
I also think that is one of the reasons why I have continued to compete in pageants year after year. I have not won a state title yet (maybe this year will be my year lol) and I’ve had people make comments to me (and also behind my back lol) about why would she continue to compete? Hasn’t she done this like 5 times already?
Here’s the thing, I think many of us experience this in different ways. Maybe you’re not a pageant contestant, but you enjoy running 5ks. Maybe you’ve got a dream of building a business. Maybe you want to write a book one day. These may be big goals or they may be small, but you enjoy working towards them because it makes you feel like you are working towards something bigger. Who really wants to just sleep, eat, go to work, come home and repeat the next day? There’s got to be more to our lives than that.
I love competing in pageants because it makes me better as a person. I have a goal to work toward. I have a reason to not eat pizza 3 days a week- you wouldn’t believe the motivation you have for fitness when you know you’ll be wearing a swimsuit on stage in a few months. But beyond the physical aspect, competing in pageants has given me a platform for my non-profit and I feel like I’ve truly been able to make a difference in the state that I love so much.
I’ve been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes and it’s hit me pretty hard. If you haven’t read it- I would certainly encourage it because it really puts life in perspective for us. King Solomon (the author of the book) had wealth, power, status, and anything else a person could dream of accumulating in life. But, he writes about how every bit of it is meaningless unless you are doing something bigger with what you have.
I’ve learned that God doesn’t need me- He wants me- but He doesn’t need me to accomplish what He wants to do. However, I don’t want to miss out on what God’s doing. I desire to be apart of His plan in whatever way I can. Whatever gifts, talents, skills, or opportunities He has given me, I want to use those things to do something bigger.
I love my job in real estate, I love competing in pageants, and I also love being a personal trainer, but reading through this book has really challenged me to think deeper and ask myself what’s the bigger goal? What is the bigger purpose? I don’t want to just make a living- I want to make a life that that has depth to it. But, only Jesus can truly add depth to our lives.
So, I say all this to say- what are the things you’re doing (pageants, 5ks, building a side business) and what is the bigger goal in them? Some folks may not understand why I compete in pageants year after year- but it honestly doesn’t really matter what they think. Just like it doesn’t matter if people understand why you keep running 5ks or writing drafts to a book you’ve been dreaming about publishing. What matters is that you have goals, you have dreams, and you have purpose. If you aren’t sure quite yet what that purpose is, that is okay.
I would encourage you this week to start reflecting and praying on how you can take the things your life consists of right now, and use them to be a part of something more.
“So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please Him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 (NLT)
Bailey Kennon 