Stop Wandering, Find Fulfillment Right Where You Are

The Wanderer

No one knows for sure why he left. Times were hard, no doubt; the turn of the 20th century wasn’t easy for many. But still… 

Perhaps he felt there was more to life. Maybe he thought real adventure lay somewhere other than the Wisconsin farm he shared with his wife and children. Or maybe he left to pursue fame and fortune. 

No matter the reason, his traveling took him to the state of Washington. During the following decade his family received a few letters. It was obvious from his correspondence that life wasn’t rosy in the Northwest either. 

Years later the family heard the final word. The wandering husband and father had died–apparently tragically, apparently alone. 

What prompted a father to forsake his children? What drove a man to leave behind loved ones and all that is familiar for an unknown land? What kept him away when faced with a lonely, desperate life?

Searching for something…

Although an extreme case, this isn’t an isolated instance of absent husbands and fathers. It’s just one of many tragic stories of wanderers in search of … something.

Many of us are wanderers as well–not necessarily physically but in our spirits. And really we are searching for the same thing the AWOL father was. We are looking for something to make us feel complete–something to bring us alive inside. We are looking for the three P’s: purpose, passion, and peace.

Where Fulfillment Is Found

God designed us to have a purpose, to live with passion, and to experience the peace found in our relationship with Him. But we often ignore Him in our quest for fulfillment.

The One we need the most is the One we tend to turn to last. 

We wander around looking for the answer when it’s been right there the whole time.

The key to fulfillment isn’t the right job, a great location, a perfect family, or lots of money. A complete life is found only when we are anchored in the one Guide who will bring us Home.

And He is always available.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness….For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness” (Colossians 2:6-7, 9-10).

Reflections: Do you think one of the three P’s is more important to some people than others in “feeling” fulfilled?

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Linking with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience in 2013 with my Joy Dare list  for Multitude Mondays (#1851–1871, read the entire list by clicking here):

• Began my day watching 4 hummingbirds zing around; Observing the maturity & confidence of teen friends; My freezer!
• Visiting w/ old friends (former campground hosts); Healthy eyes (even though they need correction); Fog over the lake
• Waking up daily to deer feeding in r yard; Jesus–just Him. here. for me. for you; Gearing up 4 #LivedLoved13 #NYG event
• Great day spent w/ Mom & Rach; Awesome dental check for Rach; Delivering a care pkg to Daniel
• Dan leaving for San Antonio to be a volunteer at the #lcmsnyg; Rach tolerating pool’s deep end; Meds for Lyme disease
• Checked half of my to-do list off; Daniel arrived in San Antonio safely; Evening breeze through the window
• Finally on the rd to San Antonio; Busdriver willing to pray w/ us; Great U.S. road system–something we take for granted
• 

Also linking with the following wonderful site: