INDIVIDULARITY

Why This Thought Made Me So Happy!

I had been thinking about something for a long time, thinking about the age old question: What am I here for? 

As a long-time believer I’m familiar with many of the standard answers: We are here for God’s glory: Here to do his will: Here to share the gospel: Here to love God and to do good. All are correct answers, all are important and none of them answer my question.  

I was searching for my reason to be here, for what God wants from me? When that happy thought came together, I realized the answer I was seeking was contained in the statement; “I’m here to do what God prepared for me.” Eph 2:10

 

My Great Joy:

Yes I was searching, but I wasn’t only searching for me. My dream was to find a way to help other people discover what they are here to do. That dream has come alive, and that is the foundation of the INDIVIDULARITY process. How to find and do what God prepared for you. That is why this thought made me so happy! 

 

 

The three points:  

 

That statement gave me three points of reference I could use to triangulate my search. Three sentences I could use to define, limit and find exactly what I am here to do. 

 

  1. I am here to do something specific.
  2. Everything I need has already been prepared.
  3. I was designed to do what God wants from me.         

 

 

Using The 3 Points: 

Here is an example of how I used the 3-points to define and limit the parameters of my INDIVIDULARTY (IDY) quest. 

 

First: 

I based the criteria for my quest to something specific that would fit what I do best, and is something I believe God wants from me. Points 1 & 3

Second: 

Whatever God has prepared for me is meant to meet the needs of people. That helped form a better question; who needs what I have to offer? Points 1, 2 & 3

Third:

One passion has stayed with me all my life; to help people find and fulfill their destinies.  Now I’ve discovered that is what God wants from me, and what he’s designed, prepared and equipped me for. 3 out of 3 on this one as well.

 

That is a taste of how INDIVIDULARITY works

You probably noticed I’ve used myself as the example, I did that because this has become foundational in my faith and life. What I’m showing you I’m doing too. You might also notice that I haven’t scattered Bible text all over the page. There are several reasons for that.

This is not a Bible study course, this is a life discovery experience drawn from the truth and meaning in scripture. I’ll often show references, and can provide more as needed. Allow God to speak his word to you and through you, his words and ways are written on your heart

But what I hope to model is how to become a direct report to Christ in every area of your life. No one else can find what God has prepared for you. Only you can do what you are here to do. 

 

A Brief History Of INDIVIDULARITY

This is year 16 for me. My first notes go back to early 2007. In the beginning I called this, “Prime” like the number. At that time I was in my 8th year as a staff pastor in a big church. It was then that I caught my first glimpse of what would become IDY. 

About then I also realized that I wasn’t doing what I was made to do. Two years later I left the best job I ever had and started down a new path. A great deal has happened in the ensuing years; now my wife and I are empty nesters and I am running my “day-job” business and staring to offer the INDIVIDULARITY process. (more of that story in the MOVO.blog)

Why It’s Taken This Long

I could easily say it had to do with putting three kids through college, starting and growing a new career and business, 32 years of marriage and pressing on through the doubts and fears, and the insights and tears. But that’s not why 

What I won’t say is that it was God’s perfect timing, or that I had to become my own INDIVIDULARITY crash-test dummy, those are both true elements, but not why it’s taken this long.

I don’t know why it took this long, and I thankful that why doesn’t matter. I can’t undo or redo why, but I have discovered that I can engage my INDIVIDULARITY in real time, in real life. And that requires no waiting, changing or upgrading of anything in your life.

Going public with this has taken all the courage, faith and love I possess. I’m doing this in agreement with a few friends who also believe in the IDY process.

We agree and believe in one beautiful thing: every person is here to do something wonderful that God wants and has prepared for them. Our objective is to help as many people as possible engage their INDIVIDULARITY.

Go To The Entrance Exam

ICEBURGING:

the habit of looking at stuff above the waterline;
a way to avoid the nourishing depths of life, truth and love; only showing what one want's others to see;
denying others access to the part of you that matters the most;
granting as much access to your self as possible.

Mark Allen Schmidt

The IDY Entrance Exam: Part 1

Top 10 + Bottom 90 = 100%

 

In life, in faith, in business and even in relationships, most of us show our top 10%. The part of us that best fits our circumstances and best matches the expectations of those around us. The top 10% has it’s place: The tip of the iceburg; in public places; in job interviews and in most worship gatherings. 

ICEBURGING: Granting as much access to yourself as possible.

The difficult thing is that the other 90% is either ignored or repressed, and that is a waste of most of what each of us has to offer. God created us complete and whole. He didn’t design to only let our best features show. Your INDIVIDULARITY requires access to the entire Iceburg.    

As you look over the entrance exam questions know that who you are is who God wants and needs. Not a spiritual or symbolic dedication or surrender of yourself; offer yourself as a perpetual victim of grace. Bring your whole burg.

“Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking around life–and place it before God as an offering…”  Romans 12:1 Message.   

 

A Simple Pass or Fail Exam

 

This will likely be the only time you will see YES/NO questions in IDY. A “YES” on this exam is a commitment to being as truthful-as-possible with yourself, with God and with the people who will soon accompany you on your IDY quest. A “NO” means not ready for “YES.” 

  1. Are you open to love and to loving openness? Loving God personally; loving other people individually; loving yourself truthfully. Loving openness is having the delightful curiosity of a child, the tenacity of a detective and the patience of a parent with teenagers. 
  2. Set your default to Selfness?  Looking at yourself as God does. Believing in what you have to share with your world. Deliberately putting yourself in a position to follow and finish what Christ is asking of you. Not to be confused with, or replaced by selflessness (about others first, not about you) or selfishness (you first, others can get in line)
  3. Willing to operate in fearlessness? No fear in love – No failure in grace – No end in faith.

The General Theory Of Relativity:

Gravity is a geometric property, or characteristic of space and time. In the picture above, the curvature, or warping of space and time is directly related to the presence and effect of the two planets. (the red balls) More about General Relativity

"You are here to do what God prepared for you"

Mark Allen Schmidt

The INDIVIDULARITY Idea:

You are here to do what God prepared for you; that’s what God wants. You are absolutely free to do what God wants, or you can do anything else with your life.