ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 18, 2026
Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion…” He not only said it, but pretty much demonstrated it each day of his life. It is one thing to announce one’s purpose or mission in life. It is something very different when one begins to integrate the ideas into daily practice. I believe an individual’s purpose or mission statement does not necessarily need to look like everyone else’s. We are beautifully unique, yet whatever it is should resemble some key features associated with the life and teachings of Jesus. Paul summarized it well with the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. I believe it is important to have a sense of our God-given purpose, yet if what you claim does not affirm at least some of the Fruit of the Spirit, it might be time to go back to the drawing board and do some additional discernment. Some of you may still find yourself in the discovery process, and that’s absolutely fine. And our purpose can also change as we grow or maybe our context changes. Yet at the end of the day, like Albert Schweitzer, what we announce as our purpose should not be a surprise to anyone. How we live our lives and interact with others should make it rather clear to those who observe us.
Magnificent God, your Spirit is gentle and kind, always guiding our lives toward a greater commitment to the ideal seen in the life of Jesus. May we continue to explore his life, and in doing so, grow in our understanding of what our purpose is in this life. Amen.
