The ultimate answer is the Lord Jesus Christ.
My first book, Culture Shock! Hawaii, was a response to feeling I don’t belong in Hawaii. My second book, Where in the World Do I Belong?, was an attempt to answer the question: If I don’t belong any of the places I have been so far, where do I belong in the world? The answer according to my system of culture types was somewhere in northern India or Burma. Of course, I didn’t pack up and go. First, I couldn’t afford it (although that hasn’t stopped me in the past: In my twenties I had no money and went to Japan with a plane ticket and nine hundred dollars in travelers checks—all charged on my credit card). It probably had more to do with having a wife and two kids to support and schooling to consider. Later, I found out it was really about God’s plan to finally bring me back to Him.
I published Where in the World Do I Belong? in December 2006. A year and a half later my marriage was in shambles. It was at that point, in summer of 2007, I finally found out where I belonged was in a relationship with the Lord. A job or culture that fit my personality type wouldn’t end my wandering or lead to satisfaction and fulfillment. What I had been seeking wasn’t in the world—it was in Him. This is a blog I wrote about my turning point:
http://www.wateroflife.me/?page_id=100
Also, a few comments from others:
http://www.wateroflife.me/?p=101
My third book, Discovering the Water of Life (published November 2008), answered the question posed in my first two books of ‘where do I belong?’ For the last two years, every week I have been going to church, minichurch, and meeting with an accountability partner. This year I am working through my second reading of the Bible. Through all of this I have written many blogs trying to explain God’s transformation of me and what He has shown me along the way. A few months ago, during consideration of a topic for my next book, I felt God had shown me that Jungian psychology was a deception for me. Here is my blog about that:
http://www.wateroflife.me/?p=191
Now I am at the point where I am wondering how to make a living. It may be that God is leading me away from publishing books, but to still continue writing through blogging. I am also a part-time computer teacher at an Army youth center and it may be that God is leading me somewhere in that direction. Recently, someone commented in our minichurch that the Bible doesn’t tell us specific things (like whether we should put our child in a private Christian school or not). Instead we are to take a step of faith—having faith that He will show us along the way whether it’s the right or wrong direction.
A few months ago I set up a website to start offering publisher services to authors. This week I did a revision of the first and only book I have published for someone else. I got to tell you the process did not feel blessed by His power. Yet, at work I was asked to make three marketing flyers using Microsoft Publisher. That process was anointed. I felt the end result was no less than God’s hand upon me, because the end product was more than the sum of my experience and abilities. I felt He led me to do and add things I hadn’t thought of myself. (Additionally, I have never used Microsoft Publisher before but I have been using Adobe InDesign to publish my books for the last three years.)
I guess God’s started to grow a sensitivity in me to know when I’m doing something solely on my self power versus something He has anointed with His power. His anointing is one way we can discover His will for our lives. Once you’ve discovered His will don’t make the mistake of projecting out or second guessing His ultimate plan for your life. Where you’re at may be a season in your life (e.g. a season of preparation) and where He’s got you headed might be a different direction.
Our pastor said he didn’t want to lose his travel benefits when he left an airline job to go into ministry but now he travels more than he would’ve with his airline benefits. When I first applied for jobs on the base I had applied for a driver job because I enjoyed being a pizza delivery driver when I was in college. Of course that’s not where God ended up opening the door, but in my current job I was given responsibility for maintaining our school vans which involves driving several hours a month.
So why do I need a personality type system to guide me when I have the Lord’s perfect plan and wisdom? Sure I don’t have the security of knowing God’s ultimate destination for me but I do have the security of knowing that He will lead me each day if I just trust in Him.
