DENNIS GINGERICH

To live a life of significance, it’s mission critical that you evaluate and understand three areas of your life. Halftime leader, Lloyd Reeb calls them the three C’s: Core, Capacity and Context. The more you understand your core, your capacity and your context, the greater legacy footprint you will leave behind.

The Bible indicates you were created by God in a unique way for a unique purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which he prepared in advance for us to do.”  The challenge is to discover where your unique abilities combine with what you are most passionate about and then to join in what you can see God is already doing in that arena.

CORE

Do you have a mission statement for your life? Are you clear about what your passions and strengths are? Most people I know never take the time to slow down and analyze their life long enough to develop an answer to a question like, “What do I want to be remembered for?”

I’ve carried a small laminated card in my wallet for many years. It’s my life mission statement: “To be an authentic connection between God and people through exercising my leadership gifts and unique personality.”  Last weekend, while sitting with a dozen guys going through the process led by Lloyd Reeb (Author of Success to Significance), I actually decided that I would adopt the header of this blog as my new life mission statement: “Inspiring transformissional living in adults over 50.” Have you written or updated your life mission statement recently? In a future blog, I will give you some tips on writing a mission statement.

 CAPACITY

Your capacity to live your mission will usually be fueled by or hindered by three things: Time available, your financial situation and your emotional or spiritual energy.  If you don’t have the discipline needed to say “no” to the good things so you can say “yes” to the best things, you will not have the capacity needed to fulfill your God-inspired purpose. Financial freedom or burdensome debt will either propel you toward or keep you from your mission. Your capacity to do what you’re created for is also determined by your emotional and/or spiritual energy. If you live in a deficit instead of with an overflow, you will be hard-pressed to have all the capacity you need when times get tough.

CONTEXT

The environment in which you share your time, talent and treasure is critical for maximizing your calling. The role you play and the organization where you serve can become game-changers for fruitfulness. Knowing yourself, your personality, your gifts and your wiring are very important for finding the best setting for carrying out your God-designed mission.

How are you doing in your core, your capacity and your context? The place where all three C’s overlap is where you will experience the “sweet spot” of maximum significance.

QUESTION: Would you share your life mission statement? Write in the comment section below.