The Evolution of a Mission

Lone Desert Cowboy Riding At Sunrise by Steve Gadomski

As far back as I can remember, I believed in the idea of our individual uniqueness; that we are each here to do something significant. It has been referred to by many names: mission, purpose, calling, charter, legacy, personal legend. But at that time, I didn’t know what to call it. I just knew it as a feeling in my soul. So I devoured books about historical figures. I read endless books about unlikely heroes - mostly by Louis L’Amour. I watched “Jeremiah Johnson”, “Red Dawn”, “Pale Rider” and other movies about those called to leave the herd, fight back, and/or take up the sword of justice.

After getting married (at 18 years old!) and becoming a father (at 22 years old!), I thought that was my mission - to be a good husband and father and a provider and protector. I was also deeply conditioned by the fundamentalist Christian teaching that my primary purpose was to be a good example, a good neighbor, to “be a light for the lost”. I loved the role of father and husband. And I begrudgingly but resolutely excepted the role of “good Christian”. But I wasn’t happy. I still felt a call to something.