Hurdle #9: Purpose & Role

Both purpose and roles shape how we navigate life, guiding our actions, decisions, and relationships. While purpose is often an intrinsic drive, fueled by a sense of meaning, a role is typically the function or position we hold within a structure—whether it be formal or informal.

Purpose is like a personal compass that helps us identify what matters most in life, and it is driven by core values. It answers the question, "Why am I here?" Purpose is about discovering what gives our life deep meaning and what fuels our sense of accomplishment.

The roles are the functions or duties that we fulfill within a given context. Roles answer the question, "What do I do?" They exist within a structure, and each has a distinct set of duties and tasks. While roles are assigned or chosen, they can change over time depending on circumstances.

In re-entry, your purpose and roles can change and become unclear that can be disorienting. It is essential to pause, reflect, and debrief to process how your time overseas has changed and impacted you to help discover, clarify, and reorient yourself in knowing and understanding your purpose and roles to move forward in this new season of life.

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October Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...

You Are Not A Role

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Reactivity

Transition is like putting a complex and challenging puzzle together. Some of the pieces seem like and even look like they fit in a particular place, so you continue until you get stuck. You become frustrated and annoyed because you have spent all this time and energy into putting this section of the puzzle together and now you must find the piece that is in the wrong place. Reactivity becomes one more piece of complexity that we face in transition. It is how we manage our reactivity to know whether we are connecting or disconnecting in our relationships. Let’s discover what is reactivity. The working definition from Meriam Webster Dictionary is done in immediate response to something especially without thinking or planning. Reactivity is another core relational dynamic that can disconnect us with ourselves, with others, and with God, our Immanuel. It can become a numbing agent that blocks our connection and awareness to God’s presence within us and in our...

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