Path. Purpose. Passion.

It was a busy week…the last several weeks, in fact.

I am not much of an Olympic follower. There are many stories of great success, and even success in failure. For four years, or more, Olympiads have been rushing down a path with purpose and passion. They aim for a goal, perhaps a medal, or at least a personal best. They strain and train. They compete. Winners, one and all, but those medal winners are considered to be the “Best of the Best.”

All I can say is, “Whew. Olympic games are over!” and maybe life will return to normal for casual followers. School is in session. The World Wide Little League competitions with teams from many continents, countries and cultures. Football starts soon, local, college and Pro. Couch potatoes are in “hog heaven”!

But for those athletes of the the Olympic games, many of them will take a short break and then start from their platform and launch into a new 4 year span of preparing for the next games in Tokyo!

That’s the path of a winner! That comes from someone who knows where they are going. They have purpose that spans years, and they must dig out the passion to train and trial when there are no immediate rewards. I bet they already have their new goals in place and check-list compiled for the next games!

One Chinese Gold winner, Fu Yuanhui, was translated as saying:

“Only ghosts know what I have endured in the past three months. Sometimes I thought I was going to die. The training sessions for the Olympics are a fate worse than death,” she said at one point.

She dipped into her “pre-historic energy” and likened the effort of having the Force of Star Wars helping her! And she did not even know she had won when she emerged from the event! I will not be surprised to see her competing in Tokyo!

How do I replicate their effort in my own personal walk of life?

The older I get the less energy I have to compete on any Olympic level, so my focus is toned down to more practical goals – refuse to be a couch potato! Get and stay in a better health condition. Continue to fulfill God’s calling on my life. Be a good, no, great, family man. Keep plugging away at the financial needs of a retiring life. Make good decisions. Live the life of a wise person, not a fool. Keep emotional control, even in the face of withering storms. Develop and keep friends that help carry my load and are there for me to carry their loads! Love my wife with continued undying love. Yearn for a more even keeled approach to doing and accomplishing.

There is NO WAY my life does not stay busy, day to day! There is much to continue doing, and much to pick up and do better.

So. What’s your path? Your purpose? Are they fulfilled by your passion? If yes, then Good! If not, then you need to figure out which path and purpose are completed by your passion, or you better find where your passion intends on taking you!

In the after experience of Egypt, Moses was overwhelmed by his responsibilities. Much as we are when suddenly thrust into a role we have not truly prepared for. God called him. God ordained him for a particular path and purpose. He is the God ordained leader of millions! Big decisions. Little decisions. In fact, every decision comes from him. There is no real organization to the madness. Not only is he the leader on a global scale, he is also the judge over the disputes that normally arise at personal levels.

He is over worked!

Finally, he listened to wise counsel from his father-in-law (Yes! In-laws do have good things to add to the discussion!)

So when Moses’ father-in-law [Jethro] saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” (Exodus 18:14-16 NKJV)

Jethro gives order to the chaos. Moses obeys. Life is not only smoother, but a better path, purpose and stronger passion is realized… (Read the rest of the story here.) A better pathway to success is found! Clearer purpose on leadership is fostered! Passion gets restored for the bigger picture!

Sound familiar? I’m talking to my self right now… Read and Heed…Then be like Pete and Repeat… Keep speaking. Keep practicing it. Over. And over. Again. And again. Players will come and go, but the process is always there. Fully developed. Fully maintained. Fully available to all.