A good portion of a Pastor’s service is to be with people in distress. Visiting in the hospital and in homes where folks were seriously ill, calling on the newly bereaved, talking to those wrestling in personal relationships, those with pink slips and few job prospects, calming disgruntled church members, as examples.
I generally felt a small grumble of complaint in my mind about these encounters, I was unqualified, inadequate, unwilling. So there was always the sighing instant prayer to God; “Unless you go before me and with me, I will not go.” The thing of wonder is that the reluctant servant always came away with a deep sense of satisfaction, humming a little tune of joy.
I was involved with a family that had a member in a Care Facility with Frontotemporal Dementia. The patient would be uncontrollable every morning, screaming and thrashing around in deep distress. Then as the husband stepped out of the elevator he sang a hymn. She instantly calmed down and was settled for the rest of the day. One special hymn was “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
I saunter with two friends on a regular basis. We amble and ramble while we go flaneuring. I recently checked with them to confirm our ramble and got this response:
ChatGPT explains the concept:
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that represents the intersection of four elements, each contributing to a fulfilling and meaningful life. The word “ikigai” itself is a combination of two Japanese words: “iki,” meaning life, and “gai,” meaning worth or value. The concept is often depicted as a Venn diagram with four overlapping circles, and the areas where these circles intersect is considered one’s “ikigai.”
The four elements of Ikigai are:
- What you love (Passion): This is what you enjoy doing and what brings you joy and fulfillment. It’s about identifying your interests and the activities that make you lose track of time.
- What you are good at (Vocation): This involves recognizing your skills, talents, and strengths. It’s about understanding what you excel in and what comes naturally to you.
- What the world needs (Mission): Consideration of the needs of others and the world around you. It involves finding a purpose that contributes positively to society, whether on a small or large scale.
- What you can be paid for (Profession): This element involves identifying the activities for which people are willing to pay you. It is about finding a way to make a living while aligning with your passions and skills.
The intersection of these four elements is your Ikigai, representing a balance and harmony between what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Achieving Ikigai is seen as a path to a meaningful, purposeful, and satisfying life.
It’s worth noting that Ikigai is not a static concept; it can evolve and change over time as people’s passions, skills, and life circumstances change. The pursuit of Ikigai is a continuous journey of self-discovery and adaptation.
Reflecting on all this brought joy and gratitude to me. Just as there is “an American Dream”, there is a “Disciples Dream” – A Venn diagram that best represents it – ikigai within the embrace of our Magnificent Creator. My own growth as an individual has been entirely within the context of an intimate relationship with the Tri-Unity, who is God.
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