Start Where You Are

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

I love that message! I originally heard it from Pastor Rus Jeffrey, who has a ministry in New York.

So many times we (or maybe it’s just me…) hold ourselves and our purpose in life hostage to our own excuses and/or our inability to comprehend how to accomplish our goals.

As soon as I get $25,000, I’ll start that business.

I want to be a writer, but I don’t have an agent, so I’ll just wait until an opportunity presents itself.

I feel called to minister, but I don’t have a pulpit to do it from.

I would lose weight, but I don’t have any exercise equipment. As soon as I can get a home gym together, I’ll get started.

Instead of holding yourself up, start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

My sister-in-law is a good example of this. She is a talented cake baker/decorator and wants to one day have her own bakery. She could have very easily said, “I don’t have the money or the professional kitchen or the expertise to start. This will have to wait.” Instead, she has started where she is, which is in her own kitchen, baking and decorating cakes for friends and acquaintances. She is building her expertise, building a client base, and preparing herself for the day when she is ready to open a full-fledged business.

I encourage you to take a look at your dreams and what you feel called to do with your life. You may not be in a position to achieve your final goal, but you can start where you are. You can use what you have. You can do what you can.

Do you feel called to be a writer? Well, start writing – in a notebook, on your computer, on a blog. There are plenty of ways to get those creative juices flowing. Feel called to minister to people? Well, you may not be on anyone’s guest speaker roster yet, but you have friends, right? Start there. Next time a friend is down, rather than joining in the gripe fest, take the opportunity to bless her or him.

My husband and I bring this message to each other’s remembrance often. It’s a good way to get yourself going in the right direction and to start making a difference both in your life and in the lives of others.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.