Have you ever stopped to think about how unique you are? No one in the world looks like you, was born in the same place, has your history, experiences, loves the same things that you, has the same skills that you do. That uniqueness suggests to me that you were born into this generation for a purpose.
There’s some great poetry that says “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
I love that line – to do the creative best you can with your own life – but often many of us disqualify ourselves. We come up with reasons – like I can’t do that now – I’m too young, too old, I need to finish my study, I need to raise my family, I need to get the promotion – and I want to encourage you today that now is the time. God has made you just as you are meant to be right now.
Often we disqualify ourselves because of our past – things that have failed or things that have been said to you – but again I want to encourage you and say it is not your past that defines you but your future.
In 1958 Time Magazine revealed the results from a Lloyd’s Bank survey on the fate of 100,000 paperclips (banking looked a lot different back then).
3,916 were used to unplug pipes
5,308 to clean under finger nails
5,423 to pick teeth or scratch ears
7,200 as hooks for belts, suspenders or bras
14,163 snapped, broken or twisted during phone conversations
19,143 mock card game chips
25,000 became lost or swept up off the floor
Only 20,000 were used to clip papers together
The point of this is that only a minority – 20% were actually used for their intended design – and the others were used to fulfil some other purpose.
You were built with a purpose for this time and this generation and I hope this short message today has helped motivate you to think about what that is and then go for it.