Is There Something More?
For the best past of my life, I have been insinuated by the idea of purpose or rather the quest to find one.
Since I was a young person, I always thought, “Siloma, there is something higher than just being able to go to school, have a job and just live."
I have always hated routine, I have always been bored of the norm and what most people call success. To most people, success is defined as, good health, a good non-stressful career, a good earning, ample time for self and family, ability to afford many things and peace of mind.
Most people claim to have this kind of life. A lot others work their lives off trying to build such a utopia and end up frustrated and depressed. I cannot say that I have perfectly had that life but even with that ‘perfect’ life scenario, I firmly believe that life has to mean something more.
I tend to think that the normal human being should have higher aspirations other than self. I believe that we are made for much more than just living the ‘perfect’ world-defined life.
I believe there is a reason why you are so talented in that unique gift. I believe there is a perfect reason why you love something that others don’t. I believe that there is a reason why you get some things easily while others find it hard.
The Quest To Find Self
In my quest to find self, I observed nature fully aware that answers are all around me, lucky for me, I tried farming. I have always loved mangoes and when I was young, I have ever planted a mango seed.
I observed how hairy the mango seed is, how we first had to sun dry it and later bury it in the soil. I observed how we had to water it first for days before the first shoot. I remember digging the seed out to check if it was indeed growing only to find the seed rotten and an array of roots.
I watched the seed break forth and bring forth a seedling, a frail young plant that needed all tender care to grow and later become a big tree. I remember nurturing the small tree which showed signs of withering whenever I stopped watering it and years later, the tree grew to multiply in hundreds if not thousands.
It produced fruit for humankind, wildlife and birds, it provided a cool shade for humans, domestic and wild animals and it was a home to may birds that sang songs of bliss and joy every morning.
I learnt that the seed had to die first so that something new, a frail plant totally different from the seed, can rise again. I then learnt that after death, roots are the first things that get birthed out to anchor the plant.
I then learnt that the branches were identical to the root system perfectly proving the law ‘as above so below’.
I learnt that everything in nature works in multiplication not addition. A single mango seed could produce hundreds of thousands if not millions of mangoes in its lifetime.
I went to meditate and asked, “Why doesn’t the mango eat its own fruit?” I asked, “If a tree can be this selfless, why do I expect to receive every time I give? Even if that’s the law - that whosoever gives receives, why do I give with the thought of receiving?”
I realized that the mango doesn’t just offer fruit, it gives shade, shelter, it has lots of medicinal value among other countless benefits. The conditions necessary for the mango tree to give all these is just water, oxygen, the right temperature and sunlight.
I realized that the mango tree doesn’t produce bananas because it is meant to produce mangoes. It blooms where it is planted, it doesn’t compete with the orange tree, nor any other fruit producing tree. It doesn’t see the apple tree and resent saying, “I wish I could be as valuable as the apple tree.”
I noticed that a mango would only produce in its season regardless of whether all humanity is in dire need of the mango fruit. It would only produce during its own time. I realized that no matter what humanity does, it will not force the mango tree to produce out of its own will.
I then asked myself, “Am I as strong, wise and do I know myself like the mango tree? Do I produce just for me or for others as well? Do I know myself like the mango tree or do I struggle to become an apple tree? Am I forced to produce outside of my season?”
The mango tree doesn’t struggle to find its identity because it’s identity is not shaped by other mango trees. It was not nurtured by other mango trees but a different species with complete dominion over it - the human.
I asked, “Yes, I was nurtured by fellow humans as a young person, but have they given me my identity? Have they told me that am an apple tree whereas I am the mango tree?” And then this verse struck a nerve 👇
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
- John 15:1-2 KJV
I asked myself, “Am I nurtured by He who has dominion over me? He who planted me, He who waters me and nourishes my soul or am I nurtured by the world, its systems or life circumstances? Who prunes me? Who eats my fruits? Do I even know what my fruits are? Do I even produce any fruit? ”
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Matthew 7:15-19 NKJV
That’s when I realized that I didn’t even know myself, I didn’t know who I really was. I was maybe a vine, or an apple, or an orange tree intertwined with a thistle. This is because like so many people, the world shaped us, not He who designed us and created us for a plan and a purpose.
I learnt that the mango tree doesn’t struggle with identity because it’s identity was created within its seed. I also noticed that everything the mango tree needs (its color, shape, structure, nutrients) is within its seed. I learnt that the seed precedes the form and structure. I realized that the mango will only take its identity from its creator.
The Four Levels of Purpose
The mango tree fulfills the four levels of purpose.
1. Spiritual Purpose
Since the mango tree gets its identity from its creator, its first role is to glorify its creator through all its functions. Every creation’s first purpose is to serve its creator. If you till land today, what you grow is expected to serve you.
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
- Psalms 124:1 NKJV
The Bible says that ALL things are in service to God
Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.
- Psalms 119:91 NIV
Our spiritual purpose is simply to serve the creator.
2. Special Purpose
A mango’s special purpose is simply to produce mangoes in their best form. A tree is only valuable if it produces. The Bible says
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Matthew 7:19 NKJV
The owner of the mango tree patiently nurtures the tree through the years because it knows one day the mango will be so valuable to give him abundant mangoes for consumption or sale.
Once the mango produces good profitable fruit for the owner, He continues to nurture it through pruning, watering, and weeding. The mango is nurtured only when it is valuable and profitable to the owner.
Our special purpose is to use our passions, gifts and talents to serve others. It is in serving others that we serve God and it is through serving others that we get an income. That is how the Lord blesses the work of our hands.
3. Social Purpose
God never created things in isolation. Inasmuch as there were creation of all kinds, there were not isolated. A group of trees is called a forest. A single tree cannot serve the purpose of the forest.
I believe everything created has got a social purpose, to live in peace and harmony with its kind and be cojoined with strands that cannot be broken. Rarely do we find creation that work in isolation. Even God said that man, the epitome of creation should have a kind comparable to him.
And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
- Genesis 2:18 NKJV
The Bible says that we should be at peace with our fellow kind.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
- Romans 12:18 NKJV
Our social purpose is to interact with others because we are supposed to serve humanity. Everything we want is in the hands of another human. Regardless of how introverted we are, we have to interact with other humans.
4. Sacrificial Purpose
The mango tree doesn’t only produce mangoes, it has innumerable other benefits - its branches can be home for other creatures, its leaves can be used for medicinal values among very many other functions.
Your sacrificial purpose simply answers the following statement:
How do I help someone else aside me, especially one who cannot give me anything in return?
Sadly, most people help with the resolve that God must repay them back. This is not sacrificial purpose. Inasmuch the law says whoever gives receives, one should not give solely because they will receive. It is sad that many remind God about what they have done for others whenever they get bitter that their life is not working.
Every time you go to God with the notion of, ‘I did this for you so bless me…’ you are simply telling Him to reward you according to your own righteousness not Christ’s. First, learn to lay down your life for another soul.
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
- 1 John 3:16
Again, don’t think that you are more important or more special than others:
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
- Romans 12:3
The four levels of purpose makes us whole. It teaches that the first level (spiritual purpose) is connecting with your Creator - your nurturer, your provider and your strength who gives you power to undertake your second level of purpose (special purpose) which is simply using your giftings, talents and passions to make life easier for another soul and in turn get an income.
It simply answers the question, “How can I monetize the gifts, talents and passions inherent to me?”
The third level of purpose (social purpose) helps connect us with our destiny helpers. I talk of a CMS framework, a Coach who will help you hone skills for your special purpose, a Mentor who has gone ahead of you and guides you and a Sponsor who talks about you in rooms you cannot access. Check out my coaching and mentorship packages here.
Finally, the last level of purpose is the sacrificial purpose where you use your special purpose or what you earn from it to make a difference to someone else and impact this world with the kingdom of God.
There is a reason why the Bible always mentions trees, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the tree of life etc. There is also a reason why Jesus dies on a tree. There is a big blessing in becoming this tree 👇
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
- Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV
You might be wondering, how do I know what my purpose in God is? I conduct one-on-one coaching on purpose alignment here.
First you need to know that everything you need to live (not survive) in this world is within you. You are the seed. The seed must die first so that something totally different can rise. Jesus dies first so that the Christly anointing can befall on us.
You must die to what the world has taught you about yourself that is contrary to what your Creator says about you. You must kill that character that is holding you up. You must reach to the end of yourself so that you take root to become the world’s marvel.
This explains why we undergo trying times in life. Why we have to go the wilderness, all dry, feeling lost and distant from God. Moments that seem like nothing is working but meant to shape us, to help us die to what is carnal, to what seems like is working.
And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.
- Isaiah 37:31 NKJV
Learn today that the only way up is down.
The internet and the society today has taught people that you plant and harvest on the same day. It had advocated for popcorn results and that’s why this current generation believes in shortcuts to success but in real sense, this is how growth happens.
For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
- Mark 4:28 NKJV
The earth yields crop by itself means that you can make it anyway, regardless if you didn’t have such a good start, you din’t have proper education, that worldly connection, that rich uncle etc.
You grow in phases, first the blade, then the head and then the full grain in the head. Never compare your grade one with someone’s grade ten. Growth is gradual and comparison is the thief of joy.
There is no farmer who digs the soil to check if the seed is growing. The farmer has to have faith that the seed will ultimately grow. In life, you need the mentality of the farmer and that’s why Jesus teaches about the parable of the Sower. The sower has faith that the crop will produce against all odds.
You need faith to live this life and to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
- Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Above all else, trust the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. Be patient with yourself, trust the process, allow the Lord to nurture and prune you so that you may abound in much. When he prunes and shapes you don’t complain asking, “How clumsy can you be?”
I design purpose to profit pathways for rural underserved youth. Check what I do here. Your partnership goes a long way in helping a young rural soul find their path in God and in life.
Stay Blessed
❤️