In life there is a thin line between practical thinking and faith. Often times in the middle of the two, we find ourselves obligated to something that leads to nothing and ignoring the very thing that will open the window to everything. We find ourselves in the middle. The middle is the place where your job pays the bills, but you hate it. In the middle is where you are in a relationship with someone that is a good person, but you do not love them. In the middle is where you go to church, but don’t live a Christian lifestyle. In the middle is where everything you will to do, you don’t. It is a place of mediocrity, a place where others are bound to get hurt, and a place where your purpose is stagnant. How do you get out of the middle? You are living life, but missing its fullness in the middle.

There is a Biblical passage where Saul is traveling on the road to Damascus and encounters the Lord. He realizes all of his current work, even-though he is passionate about it, and his efforts are misguided. Was his passion wrong? His passion was a trait that he would need once he came out of the middle. His efforts were simply directed in the wrong place. He was literally knocked down so that he could see the error of his ways and be forced to make a decision. Why is this important? Sometimes when you are in the middle in life, you have to be knocked down through conflict by the Creator so that your efforts and passion are directed towards purpose. He has to get your attention! Just because you are doing your current work with passion, does not mean that it is where you are suppose to put your efforts.

Saul was in the middle. He was gifted and talented at his work, but working for the wrong things. You can be passionate about your career, but working for the wrong company. You can be passionate about being in a relationship, but you can be with the wrong person. Passion alone will not take you to purpose. It can be misguided. Everyone needs Damascus. Everyone needs an experience in their life where they realize what it is they are suppose to be doing and begin to redirect their passion towards that goal. Everything in your life is important to the journey. What you deposit in to your life will either create greatness or hinder purpose. Your career, your relationships, your spiritual development, your friends and your family must all be evaluated on this basis.

Who and what will continue on the journey with you after you leave Damascus? I view it as the place of enlightenment, and personal revelation that redirects your life towards the pathway you were designed for. There are four things to remember at this point in your life:

1. You have to make a decision to change the way you think

2. It often involves conflict

3. Sometimes it involves going against everything you were taught to believe

4. Your purpose is on the other side

Saul’s name was changed to Paul because, theologically speaking, he was converted to Christianity. The name change is even more significant though. When you begin to do the things you were designed for, you will become a different person. When you begin to surround yourself with people that are good for you, you will see more positivity in your life. When you understand that conflicts in your life are designed to awaken purpose, you will embrace them and look forward to what is on the other side of the road. Do not denounce the importance of the road, because the road, eventhough it involves conflict, leads to purpose. Everyone needs Damascus! It forces you to leave the middle and make a decision on which direction to move forward.