What on Earth

So why do I tag some of my posts as "What on Earth"? I probably should tag them as "vocation" or "calling" because I'm thinking and writing about people pursuing those things. People who, I believe, are doing what they were put on this earth to do.

In the excellent movie Julie & Julia , Julia Child is portrayed as a woman who tried her hand at a number of pursuits in order to fill her time while her husband was working in Paris. She tried hat-making lessons and bridge lessons, but found these to be meaningless and unsatisfying. Ultimately, she found her true passion and gift in cooking and teaching others how to do it.

Now that my children are nearly grown and almost launched, I too am trying my hand at any number of things, trying to figure out what it is God has left me on this earth to do. Sometimes it seems as though I am just filling my time with hat-making lessons.

I like finding and writing about people who have found their passion and are doing the things they were put here on this earth to do. These are some I've observed so far:

My husband who is an engineer by both trade and temperament, and a mighty hunter in his free time.

My friend Sue--a suburban housewife and piano teacher by day, and rock-and-roll diva by night. She offers her gift in praise at her church and can also lay down a pretty mean version of Gretchen Wilson's "Here for the Party."

Kurt--a hard-working, God-fearing Kansas farmer who runs a hunting camp and sends out letters that say things like this:

This is the moment when guiding is worth the hard work, the sacrifices that we make and the time it takes, all of this is worth its weight in gold. Nate yelled at Grizz again, “here he is” and that is when the big hugs, maybe even kisses broke out. Hey, what happens in the woods stays in the woods. The next day Grizzly told me the whole story minute by minute, which was my reward, I love this part. Grizz said that he had dreamed of doing this for at least 20 years, going on a big hunt, far away, and coming home with a big buck and this was all coming from his heart, Absolutely PRICELESS. This is not the first time I have heard a story like this and God willing it won’t be the last, because this is what I live for, making people’s dreams come true. You really have no idea what this feels like unless you have done it yourself.

I think that's beautiful. Grammatic glitches and all.

There are also people I haven't met, but when I see them doing what they do, I know they are doing what God put them here on this earth to do--whether they acknowledge Him or not:

Football players Troy Polamalu, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. They're just fun to watch because, not only are they extemely talented athletes, but they also seem to be having so much fun playing the game.

Country singer Martina McBride--how does that much sound come out of such a tiny woman?

The guys from Orange City Choppers who customize motorcycles for high-paying clients. These are tattooed, muscular biker guys who are absolute artists with tools, metal, and paint.

Who do you know who is doing what he or she was put here on this earth to do?