Branding Day Two

So today, I am still pondering my personal branding. What is my unique purpose that God has created for only me? I understand the value of narrowing the focus and aligning my energies toward a single target. For me, however, that is a rather daunting task.

I am a musician. My passion and my connection in worship begin with song. Surely I could never put this part of me aside, however, there are no CD’s with my face on them, nor bookings around the country where folks are thronging to hear me sing praises to the Lord. While I would love to be known for my musicianship, and feel most alive while leading others in genuine and raw worship, this is just not that season for me. The platform at my church in my little Ohio town will have to suffice for now. Music is not my branding, even though I have often thought it would be.

I am a leader. I have studied leadership. I am qualified by the little letters after my name to teach leadership to others. I have been a leader for many years. I have organized, orchestrated, collaborated, supervised, administered, facilitated, managed, directed, taught, guided, mentored, you name it, I was leadership 101. But I am now retired. That season has passed.

I am a teacher. I know this is a gift ministry from the Lord, and I have taught many others over the years. I have taught preschoolers and high schoolers and those in between. I have taught college students in preservice educational programs. I have taught Sunday School for grown ups and Children’s church and Vacation Bible School. I have taught my children to drive (and am still living to tell the tales!). I have taught and am teaching my grandchildren to love stories and songs and to know Jesus. I will be teaching again in a few weeks at the University, but is this my brand? I know I am called to more than even this.

I am a Mom. I have three amazing children who are each living very different but exciting and fulfilling lives. They are their own persons now, and my identity can no longer be so closely tied to theirs.

I am a Grandma. The joy of holding the child of my child is something so treasured that words seem to fall short. I would pay my daughter to allow me time with those precious children, but once again, Grandparenthood is only a small yet worthy piece of my legacy.

I am a wife. My husband of less than a year is blind and there is some level of care-taking involved. However, I am not defined by being the spouse of the blind guy. I am however, grateful to partner with him in his life purpose coaching work. We are both on a different and yet very similar path, and while we are not soul mates, we are twin flames, both burning brightly to illuminate a path that makes a difference in the lives of others. We do this in vastly different ways, but out purpose is the same. We both want to bring the Kingdom of Jesus to Earth and we make each other better at what we do.

I am an intercessor. God has woken me up many times to pray for people I don’t even know. I barely can wrap my head around why, other than He knows, that when he asks me to stand in the gap, I will. Some call themselves prayer warriors. That is not me. A prayer warrior devotes much time and energy beyond the minute snippets of deep intercession where I briefly feel what it means to partner with Jesus. While I know Heaven has moved on behalf of others because I entered into obedience when asked, this is not who I am.  Some days I wish I had a longer attention span and could actually be a prayer warrior. I like the sound of that title. But alas, that is not me either.

When I have asked the Holy Spirit to tell me my purpose, I am led to this: I bring hope to the hopeless, and inspire others to begin their own purpose journey. I am pondering how this is a brand, but I am so open to hearing His voice as He teaches me how I can partner with Him to live out my calling.  It is a work in progress, and while I will not be able to set my focus yet, I am forever grateful.