The Purpose-Driven Soul

Ever have moments where you feel as if God has you by the shoulders and He is leading you in a very clear and unmistakable direction?  I have had a number of those moments come to me all throughout my life, but I've never had them quite so numerous and frequent as I have had within this last year.

Yesterday, I basked  in the wisdom of some incredible mentors at a  conference  for homeschoolers up at Weber State University.  Oliver and Rachel DeMille, the founders of Thomas Jefferson Education, were the keynote speakers.  What an incredible couple!  I absolutely love and admire the synergistic relationship those two have!  No doubt that this is why they've become such a powerful force for so much good.

I understood that these speeches, yesterday, were prepared to train me on how to better educate my children but so much of it seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear for my own journey.  One particular speaker counseled that an important element of success was to "seek mentors way over your head."  Those words, I've heard them before... Oh yeah, It's the voice of my mother, "Alicia, you are in way over your head!" But this time, instead of calling me out, they are calling me in.  The Lord has placed some incredible mentors in my path this last year who are definitely "way over my head"... and with a smile on my face and God's hand on my back, I'm jumping in and I'm going for this!

I'd have to say my favorite class yesterday was "Unleashing Your Pen" by, Kathy Mellor.  She has a website unleashingyourvoice.com.  Kathy spoke of the beauty and impact we can have on people's lives through the art of writing and speaking.  She taught the process of "The Writing Cycle" and the available means of persuasion based on "Aristotle's Rhetoric Triangle."  As I scribbled down notes, I flashed back to being 19 again, sitting in my college writing class, wondering if everyone else in the room felt as giddy as I did about what we were learning.   I can't wait to go to back to school!

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In another class, I learned the difference between Vocation and Occupation.
Despite what most people believe today, these two words are not one in the same or even synonyms. They are completely different.  Here's why:

Occupation -  is defined as "our workplace or profession."

Vocation -  (the old definition as it originally meant) is- "The thing that God has told you to do - your life mission."

In the public school system, what are we told the main purpose of school is for? - to get an occupation.

And their method of  doing so looks like this:
First, give the kids a foundation of "skills" like reading, math, science, and writing etc. Cram these into them while they are young by forcing upon them work papers and bubble-answer test sheets. Then, when they get to high school, they can begin exploring their passion.  But too often by this time, they are so concerned about measuring up to testing standards and rote practices that the passion is little (if any) and they eventually settle with mediocrity or less.

Poor Education Structure = 
Skills > Little Passion > Mediocrity

The public schools have it wrong.  And it's obvious by the statistics that there is a fundamental flaw in the system.

The primary focus and foundation, the pathway of true education starts with a solid ground of virtues. Lives built on virtuous principles prepare them for their vocation.

First, instill within children virtues of strong faith in God, true identity, Divine nature, integrity, hard work, respect, creativity, gratitude, simplicity, sacrifice, standards, patience, thrift, innovation, patriotism, compassion, selflessness, and the list goes on and on.  Of course, the very best method of teaching is always by example.

Over time, they will get a sense of passion for something.  Pay attention to what that is.  Feed this passion within them until they feel a drive to do whatever it takes to be amazing at it.  Then, they will naturally want to learn all the "skills" to see that dream fulfilled.

Education Success Structure = 
Virtue > Passion > Skills > Greatness

This way of educating is not a revolutionary concept... it is revelatory- an education foundation based on faith, on personal revelation and guidance from our Father in Heaven.

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Our primary responsibility as parents is to help our children understand who they truly are and who they can become.  Every child ever born into this world has genius inside of them.  Each one of them is destined for greatness!  And the essence of education is helping them discover their unique life purpose and mission.

Aim for greatness.  Greatness does not mean famous;  It is a quality of solid character, of a direct righteous purpose-driven soul.

It is that "purpose-driven soul" that I love!

-Alicia