“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” — Bishop T.D. Jakes
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I used to work in a farm – at the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, a non-government organization based in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. So much so that when I read the story of a little dog, penned by John Aikin, I became interested in it.
I have a purpose of sharing the story, which appeared in Frank Mihalic’s 1000 Stories You Can Use:
One day, a little puppy took a walk around his master’s farm. When he came to the pen where the horse was fed, he heard the animal call to him. “You must be new here,” the horse said. “You will soon find out that the master loves me more than all other animals because I carry large loads for him. I suspect that an animal of your size is not of value to him at all.”
The little dog hung his head and was about to walk away when he heard the cow in an adjoining stall, “I have the most honored position on the farm because the lady makes butter and cheese from my milk. You, of course, provide nothing of value to the family.”
“Cow, your position is no greater than mine,” the sheep butted in. “I lend the master wool to make his clothes. I provide warmth to the entire family. You are correct, however, about the little dog. He gives the master nothing.”
One by one, the animals joined in the conversation, sharing about their honored positions on the farm. The chicken told how she gives eggs; and the cat, famous for her quickness, how she rids the house of rats. All the animals did agree on one thing: the little dog provided no service of value to the farm family.
Stung by the criticism of the other animals, the puppy found a secluded place and began to cry. An old dog heard the sobs and paused to listen to the little one tell his story. “They are right,” he sobbed. “I provide no service to anyone.”
“It is true,” the old dog told the puppy, “that you are too small to pull the wagon. And you will never produce eggs, milk, or wool. But it is foolish to cry about what you cannot do. You must use the ability the Creator gave you to bring laughter and cheer.”
That night, when the master came home exhausted from long hours in the hot sun, the little puppy ran to him, licked his feet and jumped into his arms. Falling to the ground, the maser and puppy romped in the grass. Finally, holding him close to his chest and patting his head, the master said, “No matter how tired I am when I get home, I feel better when you greet me. I wouldn’t trade you for all the animals on the farm.”
Just like the animals, we are given tasks by our Master. Each of us possesses abilities unique to us. Even the twins or triplets don’t have the same skills and capabilities. It simply means that we can use whatever talents we have to be of service to our fellowmen.
Mihalic compared God to those of an author who writes stories that are published in books or being brought to the silver screen.
“Whenever we watch a thriller, or read one, we are not disturbed or upset if everything seems to be going against the protagonist in the first half of the story,” Mihalic wrote. “We know beforehand that it is all going to turn out alright in the end. The more problems there are in the story, the more hindrances and sufferings, the better the plot is. And, in the end, it all does get solved.”
Mihalic ended his thoughts with these words: “God has as much talent as any author of hair-raising stories. He knows exactly what He is doing in our lives. He knows exactly why He does things. They all have a good purpose.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Find what is your purpose here on earth. Don’t ask others what to do with your life. Jim Rohn reminds, “If you don’t design your own plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. Guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”
More often than not, we plan on how we can be successful with our lives. But Albert Einstein advised, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” Is it the one which the little puppy was aiming for?
Success and purpose – these two can go together. “Instead of searching for status or prestige, we should always be striving to make ourselves useful and beneficial to others in some way,” explains the website, Organize My House. “Throughout our life, it’s this balance between trying to achieve things and working to serve others that will truly bring meaning and fulfilment.”
This brings us to the subject of service. As Marian Wright Edelman says, “Service is what life is all about.”
Wayne Muller further expounded, “As we serve others, we are working on ourselves; every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts as well. It is not a question of who is healed first. When we attend to ourselves with compassion and mercy, more healing is made available for others. And when we serve others with an open and generous heart, great healing comes to us.”
To end today’s column, let me end it with this anecdote shared to me by a physician friend: The old doctor had never refused a call either for rich or for poor. But now he was tired and retired. When he got a call at midnight, he asked the caller, “Do you have any money?” The caller answered affirmatively.
“Then go to the new doctor,” the old doctor answered. “I’m too old to get out of bed for anyone who can pay for it.”
