Get To Steppin’! Being Mindful of your Purpose Filled Walk

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Matthew 21:12-17 NIV

 When Jesus entered the temple, I imagine he was quite disturbed… to see things being sold where they should be given freely, and people putting greed above helping others. A place for the helpless being used to take advantage of those in need. A table flip or two was definitely necessary.

Not every opportunity is a good one. When certain opportunities present themselves, we must use our best judgement to determine how it may affect not only us, but also those around us. We have to question what matters most. Is it my own selfish need to have more than my neighbor? Or, am I really being a light to my community and those around me? Sometimes we are blinded by what we think is success. Once we get a taste of what we claim to be wealth, our judgement about what truly matters can become clouded.

Being a follower of Christ, “people” often assume you are to look and act a certain way. We aren’t allowed to make mistakes. We aren’t supposed to be “human”. But who set these standards? How are we to learn from our mistakes if we aren’t expected or allowed to make mistakes to learn from? The most important thing I’ve learned from being a follower of Christ is that it’s ok to mess up. Mistakes happen. What matters is how we handle those mistakes. Do we continue to do wrong because we know we can get away with it? Or do we reflect on how changing our actions can positively reflect who we are and whose we are?

As a business owner, I became more focused on how I can be more successful rather than how I can help those around me. It became more about the money than anything. My go to come back was, “I have bills I have to pay. Money won’t make itself!” Then I realized, it’s never just about the money. It’s about the experience. The reflection. The joy I bring to my clients. The satisfaction of accomplishing something people doubted I could do.

My challenge to myself is to do more for my community. To bring joy to others. To focus more on how I can use my craft to expose people to the power of God. I challenge YOU to discover how you can be a light to your community. A little effort goes a long way.

One of my favorite 90s sitcoms is Martin. He mastered the art of kicking people out of his house. Albeit quite rude, once he cleared his space he made it open for positivity to come in and take over. He also made it clear when the actions of those who he opened his home to were unacceptable. Be mindful of how you walk. No matter how many doors are closed in your face there is still time to turn your situation around and find you purpose filled walk.