“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” – Les Brown

Alright everyone, go ahead, circle up, and sit criss cross applesauce it’s story time!

Today, we are going to tell the adventurous story of how Joseph, that’s me, didn’t believe in himself.

The year was 2011 and I was 21. I knew everything about nothing while going to Grand Rapids Community College and taking classes here and there only to have that feeling I was doing something with my life. I ended up in this Business Management course as a requirement for my degree and the professor announced on the first day that the course was going to consist of all group work. If I swore, that’s the moment that this introvert would’ve inwardly screamed ‘YUCK’ with an ‘F’ in all 5 stages of grief. One of the key things I learned from High School is that I hate group assignments. And honestly, who actually likes group assignments? It seems like there’s always a one in a million chance that you’re going to be in a group that you all actually paid attention in class, you all understand what you paid attention to in class, and there’s so many other factors to it that I don’t have the time or patience to list. The worst thing about this was no one knew anyone, so we didn’t even have a chance to scout out the potential in the class. Here I was hoping and praying that I get put in a group that has smart people and good looking girls. Part of my prayer already fell flat because at that age I was always scanning the room on the first day of class for girls and let me tell you, it was a room full of duds. 

Our groups were chosen and mine was a cool group with a mix of people in age, gender, and weird. We did our first project, which turned out good and then it was on to the next assignment. Here we were at the end of class throwing out ideas for a business and I’m silent because I had an idea, but I’m afraid. I was afraid of not being accepted. I was afraid of my idea being stupid and thereby being identified as stupid. All of it was wrapped up in this self-made shell of being cool, calm, collected, and boyfriend material. I walked out of the class with this idea still weighing on me and all the way to the next week when we had class again. We started the class the next week and it was weighing even heavier on me, so I finally said my idea. “What if we do greeting cards that are called ‘Just Because’. They’ll be cards for no specific reason, but just because we’re thinking of someone.” I felt myself shaking in their silence as they are chewing on the idea. Those three seconds felt like forever as I was preparing to shield myself from being rejected. Come to find out, they loved the idea and moved forward with it. Fast forward. 

We did alright on the project and it was no longer my concern, so I thought… For years after that project I felt that same heaviness to do something more with that idea and I would continue to ignore this prompting year after year. Spring of 2018 came. I was walking in the mall and I stop in my tracks as I look into the Hallmark display window that was introducing their new line of greeting cards called… “Just Because”. My stomach dropped to my feet…

How often do we find ourselves in the position of shying away from speaking or implementing an idea because we are afraid that it will be considered stupid, useless, or impossible?  Growing up I lacked the confidence to march to the beat of my own drum and now looking back I see that what was in me was, is special. I learned this lesson the hard way and there is still a tinge of pain and regret even as I’m writing this out. But I use that experience to remind myself that I have something special and if one person doesn’t see the value in what I bring, I can’t let the opinions of others or their lack of vision put blinders on me concerning my gifting, abilities, or strengths. 

So I write this as a charge to all of us as we are on this journey of SOS (Search of Significance). I know right now you may not be in the position you want to be in, but take note of those things that are weighing on you like ‘Just Because’ was for me. Whether it’s a longing for _______ (fill in the blank), an idea that changes the process of how your workplace does things, or maybe a new business is brewing in you. Whatever it is, if it’s continually coming back to your mind and it seems like it’s starting to move into your thinking space, you should pay attention to this thing, open the door, have a conversation with it, phone a friend and have a conversation about it. Take the time you need to acquaint yourself with this thing by journaling, having quiet time to have inner dialogue, turning off your devices, prayer and meditation, there are so many different avenues to understand this gift, so find what works best for you. Don’t ignore it. You’ll find that the more you listen to and build relationship with the gift inside of you and believe in you there will be no way you can stay at that job you hate, with people who pull you down, or even depression. 

There is Greatness living in YOU.

SOS.