They Both Found Their Purpose & Calling

Let me tell you about a man called Martin Luther King, Jr. a minister, social activist and a believer in the good of all people and a most inspiring speaker. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929 as Michael King, but in 1935 his father changed both of their names to Martin Luther to honor the German Protestant Reformer.

History has it…

“The precocious Martin skipped two grades, and by age 15, had passed the entrance exam to the predominantly black Morehouse College. There King felt drawn into pastoral ministry: “My call to the ministry was not a miraculous or supernatural something,” he said. “On the contrary it was an inner urge calling me to serve humanity.”

His movement started the day he followed that urge, and that was way before he made his way to DC on August 28, 1963 to make the “I have a Dream Speech”.

While reading about Doctor King I discovered one awesome fact about him, he wasn’t good at public speaking, well not at the beginning based on his certificate from college. Dr. Martin Luther King’s Certificate… shows him as initially getting an P (pass) in public speaking from Crozer Theological Seminary that first year. He continued to get better, going on to earn better grades in public speaking, and we all know what happened to the world after that.

The purpose of this story about Dr. King is to help you see that sometimes the vision or calling you have will require you to develop the gifts that’s been deposited in you. Don’t be discouraged that it looks like you’re not qualified. What gifts do you have and aren’t using to help yourself or others around you?

To be relevant in 2018, I found a comparable story in Ed Sheeran. He had an interest in singing from a young age because he had been in the church choir as early as age 4. Then one day, he fell in love with music after meeting Damien Rice an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer after a performance and had an epiphany that, that  was what he wanted to do too his career choice was influenced by Damien that night.

He’s been quoted saying, It was his love for the guitar that got him into music and signing, not his voice.

It was his love for the guitar that got him into music and signing, not his voice.

Ed Sheeran found a reason to continue practicing his guitar until he became the best at it because he knew that was what he must do to be able to serve, play and sing.

He knew music was his calling and that he had to do something about it, so as well as writing and playing the guitar he decided to start playing at venues too. What other things can you do to perfect that thing you love doing?

The story of Dr. King and the story of Ed Sheeran shows us that purpose is found when we follow what we love, in our interests and for some it’s found in listening and following God’s urging.

CHANG WATCH: Do This: Do you know what your purpose is, do you have an idea what have you been called to be to people? a good place to start is by exploring your skills and interest.

Read part II of the series by clicking here

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Sincerely in God’s Joy,

– Gloria