Ask yourself, “What needs do I see in the world around me as the most pressing?”Without being scientific and looking up any data, in your opinion, what is the “world’s greatest need”? What inventions does the world need the most?
We see the world through the lenses of our calling. I have observed that we tend to have a bias toward what we are called to do in life.
If you pose the above questions to someone who is called to serve the poor and is passionate about her calling, can you guess what she will say? I bet you can! She is likely to see taking care of abandoned children as the world’s greatest and most urgent need. She may tear up when she talks about it and her heart is broken to pieces by the plight of the poor. Don’t get into an argument with her about what needs in the world are most important because you can’t win. Other needs, which may be just as great and urgent don’t pull the same strings on her heart. Is she acting unreasonably? Absolutely not. That’s the way we all are.
Someone who is called to cook may complain about the current diet. He may say someone needs to do something about it otherwise people will be hurt.
Have you ever worked in an organization and gotten frustrated because “everything just seemed to be done the wrong way”? Many of the mistakes that are being made are so obvious to you. You can see the solution from afar but people won’t listen to you. Maybe you are in a church or synagogue and you see things that are simply handled “wrongly”. You caution yourself not to be a know-it-all, to be humble, but the truth of the matter is that you are not being immature. Things could really be done better and you have the ability to see a better way much easier than others do. Sometimes you may try to help, but they won’t let you.
Many great inventions and innovations have happened when talented people have been in this kind of situation and the opposition from the status quo has caused them to leave, go and start organizations that have changed the world.
This ability to see needs or solutions that others don’t see quite as easily is often a silent revelation of our talents and an indication of our calling. I call it the purpose or calling bias.
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