Chasing Donkeys

“Chasing Donkeys: Finding God’s Purpose at the Crossroads of Everyday Life” is the title of a new, soon-to-be-released book by A.R. Bernard. During my last two trips to church, I’ve been privy to an awesome—and certainly timely—sneak peak into the highlights of the book.

In Chasing Donkeys, Dr. Bernard introduces an acrostic that represents the main ingredients and principles around living a life of purpose. Both lessons were inspiring and incredibly thought provoking so, naturally, I am compelled to share.

PSA: I specifically aim to share principles and reflections that are universally applicable. Therefore, regardless of your beliefs, I think there are relevant nuggets. Read on, my agnostic/atheist friends. Read on.

Highlights

Your life is designed so that you can live in and on purpose.

D.E.S.S.I.G.N.

(PS: Yep, fully aware there is only one “s” in “design”…move along, people; nothing here to see)

D: Desires

E: Experience

S: Skills

S: Strengths

I: Identity

G: Gifts
N: Natural inclinations

A few supporting points:

Purpose is not a thing or an event
Purpose is not static; it is dynamic
Living in your purpose is what happens when you are using your gift, talents, and abilities to meet a human need
Frees you from selfishness and self-centeredness
Discovering your gifts, talents, and abilities is more important than discovering your purpose
God has written his will in the very fiber of your personality, gifts, talents, and abilities

D.E.S.S.I.G.N. in Detail

D = Desires: a God-given desire never leaves you; it will keep resurfacing until you obey
E = Experiences: God uses our experiences to shape us for purpose; nothing is wasted; starts w/our birth: family and circumstances into which we were born
S = Skills: acquired abilities developed over time through our experiences
S = Strengths: things at which we excel; things we take for granted
I = Identity: behavioral and personal characteristics about you
G = Gifts
N = Natural inclinations

Based on the above, the salient questions for us all are:

What are your long lasting desires? What is that cause, that business idea, or that segment of society on which you can’t stop reflecting?
What are the life experiences that have shaped you—your origins, your socioeconomic position (then and now), your world view?
What skills have you developed through your experiences and the course of your life?
What are your natural strengths and gifts?
What are your unique personality characteristics? What makes you YOU?
What are your natural inclinations and tendencies?

As I continue on my journey to answer (or re-answer) the question on purpose, I will use the above as principles and direction to help crystallize that which I likely already know. As I’ve intimated previously, I suspect the answer will be something (seemingly) obvious; something that has been evident from early on; something that is a culmination of who I am and what I can do…right now…with what is in my hands.

Happy reading/discovering/searching/answering, dear friends. Keep me posted!