If you've ever worked in retail, as I have, then you're familiar with the tedious task of taking inventory - row by row, product by product, package by package. It's a long, boring and often strenuous job ... but, ultimately, it keeps businesses on track.
What struck me about this businesswoman taking an inventory of everything she owned before starting her company was that she really did take an inventory of EVERYTHING she had. Obviously, she checked up on her bank account, her investments and any material possessions she owned with significant financial worth ... but, she explained, she also took into consideration her education, her past work experience, her life experience, her support network, her talents, her skills, her interests, her hobbies. In essence, this woman sat down and took an inventory of her life. She told the interviewer that she: "asked myself what I had, what I didn't have ... then I looked over what I had and said, 'OK how can I use all this stuff? How can I pull this all together?"
I have no intentions of starting my own company anytime soon (unless you consider being a Mommy to a handful of munchkins a "business" in which case, bring it! lol) But the interview inspired me in other ways. It inspired me to take an inventory of my own life ... to pause and think about absolutely everything I have - from my material possessions to my life experiences. I've committed to spending some time this week thinking about how I can pull all that stuff together to better serve God.
Fresh out of university and living in one of the most expensive cities in the country, I don't have much ... no major investments, not much extra money in my bank account. But I'm slowly starting to realize that the things I do have are actually incredibly valuable for ministry and that makes me so flippin' excited.
For example - I have a lovely apartment with a living room that can easily accommodate several people, right in the heart of the my neighborhood. The fact that my roomie and I found this place, are able to afford this place and were chosen by our landlords (over several other candidates) to live in this place is nothing short of a miracle. So, that has me thinking ... how can I use my apartment to be a hub for God-centered activities? What kind of social events or little meet-up groups can I host here? How I make the most out of where I live? I have total confidence that God has some great plans for this living space of mine, and am earnestly praying that He will reveal those plans to me when the time is right.
In addition to taking a full inventory of my life, I'm also challenging myself to be more creative and thrifty. I really do want to be a good steward, not only of my finances but also of my time, possessions, etc. Rather than focus on what I don't have, I want to be more like the businesswoman in that interview and focus on what I do have, finding ways to pull it all together to serve God, bless others and entertain myself.
So now, without further ado, it's back to my inventory list ... :-)
