The concept of “God’s will” was the hot topic of spiritual writers in the mid-80s. It seemed everyone had a definition of what “God’s will” meant, but few felt satisfactory.

Creationists chortle: “God created everything!” So who, then, created evil?

Inventors create products with a purpose in mind. Alexander Graham Bell created the telephone for long-distance communication. Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the airplane for advanced transportation.

Call me morbid, but I love funerals. They teach me about life.

Modern Americans typically keep a calendar of their daily, weekly and monthly activities. We create lists, make appointments and schedule lunches. Whether the list is handwritten or exists on your iPhone, the truth remains the same – the things on our calendar drive our daily lives.

My sophomore year of college I enrolled in linear algebra, an ominous but necessary class to fulfill my intended math major.

Despite our widespread and deep-seated notions of perfection, it is not what we think.  We look at perfection as having to do with a great veneer- don’t smoke, curse, drink, wear baggy clothes, see R-rated movies, sleep late or spend too much money.

Howard Schultz’ vision had two purposes: creating a great work environment and producing “the best coffee experience possible.” Starbucks was born. “Jerry Maguire” centered on a sports agent struggling with his own purpose and direction in a life that screamed, “Show me the money!” Rick Warren’s “Purpose-Driven Life” has sold over 24 million copies, shattering records at every turn. Best-seller lists, song lyrics, institutional mission statements, and movies all indicate that we increasingly think about this idea of purpose.

We crave an ultimate finale, an accomplished finish line, a terminus. Yet when adopting the Lord’s purpose as our own, we must abandon this desire. We must exchange it instead for a lifelong pursuit of something not fully knowable.

For some children, this question may hurt too much to ask. The answers don’t always fill us with a sense of belonging. Words like “mistake,” “accident” and “unplanned” hang over some lives. “You weren’t in the cards.” “We didn’t expect you.” “I didn’t ask for you. And now you are here.”

Hundreds of years ago a Roman centurion approached a rabbi on the street, cornering him with two questions, “Who are you?” and “Where are you going?” “How much money do you make?” responded the Rabbi.

Perfection is like a prison. We start out laboring to achieve it, but end up in bondage. The perfection we seek is an illusion. But when the TRUE perfect comes, the partial things will fade away. I have strived for perfection my whole life. I know personally how much of a prison this pursuit can become. Unfortunately, I’ve also expected the same of my wife and kids. In doing so, I inevitably set them up for failure because perfection is an unattainable goal. Instead of doing good, this expectation ends up hurting my relationship with them. I’m grateful to the Lord that He has helped them mostly recover from my mistakes.