Sometimes, life hands you lemons, and you make lemonade. Other times, life hands you gourds, and you look back at life and ask it, “What am I supposed to do with these?”
At some point or another, my Creator, the God who assembled me together, inside and out, added a spark into the primary engine of my spirit that kicks on when I watch people connect and work together. And oddly enough, I can remember this spark being there since I was a kid. Back then, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you what it was about watching two friends from two different friend groups hit it off and get along that made me so happy, I just know it did. It always has, and it always will; however, what do you do with that feeling?
Growing up and watching your friends’ passions develop is a fascinating process - how these passions evolve and influence the trajectory of life is amazing, and it carries people all over the world. From friends passionate about athletics and pursuing professional sports to friends passionate about politics and pursing careers centered on social justice, it gives one a feeling of pride to stand back and say, “Hey, that’s my friend. Look how far they’ve gone.”
But what was I going to do with this weird passion I had of convening people and watching them form friendships out of those introductions? I certainly wasn’t going to pursue a career in match-making, but surely there had to be something out there ‘where my greatest joy met the world’s greatest need,’ as the great Frederick Buechner said. After all, I highly doubted the world needed another match-maker (although Bumble and Tender turned out to be pretty successful), but surely, the world needs something that allows me to do what I love?
-Cliff
Cliff’s Note: Match your greatest joy with the world’s greatest needs is a journey, one that cannot be given up on.