Dr. Myles & Ruth Munroe
So I haven’t blogged in a long while, I mean a very long while because I’ve been busy. Yes, I’ve been busy with a lot of projects including 2 books I have been taking my time to publish but with the news that hit me today, I signed the agreement, made payments and sent one manuscript to the publisher without thinking much. It was a very heavy one, although no longer a news, I’m still in a little shock. And though we don’t get overly sad over the demise of a believer; “for to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord”, some people contribute so much value that you just wish they stay here adding values, teaching us and leading us for as long as it takes to be everything God wants us to be.
Like you already know, it was the news of Dr. Myles Munroe’s death; it hit me hard like a base ball bat in the face. But for the news everywhere, it’s still hard to believe. I don’t know how much he had in him but with the value he added to lives; his books I read and his teachings I listened to, the pro die-empty teacher, speaker, mentor, coach of many people and governments would have died almost empty or completely empty. Just as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6 “my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering”, Dr Myles life was poured out helping people live life to the fullest.
So as we celebrate and poured encomiums on him, thanking God for giving such a gift of man, many have shared many of his quotes including, “Failure is not the absence of success, failure is the neglect of trying”, “Being open to corrections means making ourselves vulnerable and many people are not willing to do that”, “Don’t be a pigeon if you were born to be an eagle. Experience God’s altitude for your life”, “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose” … Sincerely the list goes on and you know it. Such a tremendous life he lived.
One of his quotes sticks out for me, it feels like the fulcrum on which his other quotes rotate. I was in a meeting over the weekend where the speaker, Fela Durotoye talked about a similar thing – “When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable”.
Someone once said “your vision is your destination and if you don’t have a vision, you must have been walking around aimlessly all your life. Purpose is the reason a thing or a person is created and at least we all believe we were created. The question has therefore gone beyond whether or not we have a purpose, the question is, “do you know your purpose?”. If you don’t, you strike me like the man or woman who move about aimlessly because he or she lacks a vision. And just as Dr Myles’ quote, you are definitely abusing yourself.
The essence of life is in finding what we have been created for and aligning our daily living with that purpose. Many years ago, in the place of prayer, meditation and through the help of great people and speakers, under the tutorage of my pastor, Victor Adeyemi including the writings of Marcus Buckingham and the man we celebrate, Dr Myles Munroe, I found and was able to articulate mine and it is ‘helping people live excellent lives by recognizing, maximizing and capitalizing on their best strengths’. Although I’m still discovering more details about my purpose and life goal, but the ability to articulate this has shaped my life, my choice of career and key life activities and I’m happy.
It’s not just enough to put up Dr. Myles’ pictures and post his quotes. If you truly desire to celebrate this man and you respect what he lived and died for, stop abusing yourself, find purpose, know why God created you, align your life and start living. His death is a wake up call, not just reminding us that our sojourn here is really temporary but that we should live for a higher purpose, making real contributions while at it.
Rest in peace Pastor (Dr.) Myles Munroe, Pastor Ruth Mumroe, Charisa Munroe and the others that also died in the plane mishap. I pray that God’s comfort will be with all their families.
