He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world. - 1 Samuel 2:8
In order to build something the ground considered for construction must be broken. In order to reorganize there has to be a moderate amount of disarray. In order to repair something you have to take it apart, make the necessary repairs and then put the item back together again. Experience has taught me that people and the lives they lead can be viewed in this same manner. I use these analogies to set the tone for my newest entry concerning the importance of laying the proper foundation for one’s life.
Having the proper foundation before building anything is essential. The foundation of a structure means everything to its construction. A solid building foundation can mean the difference between a building’s structural integrity lasting a few years or a few centuries. The weaker the structure’s foundation the shorter the structure’s life span. It is amazing how much the human life span parallels that of a building’s. For example, as previously mentioned a building with the proper foundation can stand for centuries. Likewise, families that have been blessed with a solid foundation (With a spiritual core and spiritual reinforcement) leave legacies that last for several generations. Without the proper care and maintenance a building will begin to deteriorate internally as well as externally. This can apply to the human body as well because the body is considered in some circles to be the temple of your soul. Improper dieting, lack of adequate exercise, serious physical neglect and dangerous habits (excessive drinking, recreational drug use, chain smoking, careless sexual behavior, etc.) can cause one’s body to deteriorate both internally as well as externally.
I have seen first hand the effects that come from abusing or neglecting your body. I have seen individuals who at one point seemed invincible sadly reduced to a vegetated state all because they refused to take care of themselves and protect their health. Insuring good health is one way to insure that your physical as well as your emotional foundation is solid. However, there are several factors that can cause one to begin neglecting their health. Stress, anxiety, lack of knowledge, bad decision making, and stubbornness can all lead to unhealthy behavior which can have life altering effects if let unchecked. Later on in this passage I will elaborate on what is necessary to “storm proof” your temple. Insuring a solid foundation for your life is nothing more than remaining grounded and not letting exterior factors define the course of your life or your identity. Time and time again I have seen what happens to people who place their trust in tangible things such as their money, their vehicles, their homes, their status, their Blackberry Address Book, and the list goes on and on but you get the picture. Now don’t misunderstand me or misconstrue what I am saying, There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting the finer things in life. However, the loss of your soul in the pursuit of or in the midst of the accumulation of material wealth is a serious issue. People have completely lost their identity trying to “keep up with the Joneses”. When you are truly grounded, the tangibles matter very little. The intangibles (Check out some of my earlier entries for these intangibles) that so many of us take for granted are the things that keep us grounded and guarantees that we don’t forget from whence we’ve come. What good is that multi room mansion when there is no peace within its walls? What’s the purpose of a fleet of high end or exotic vehicles if you don’t operate them responsibly? What good are all of those degrees if you don’t have any common sense (There are way too many educated fools in this world)?
A Solid Foundation’s significance in the discovery of Purpose
Now in order for people to reach their full potential and truly understand the Creator’s purpose for their lives there are certain things that must take place. The first thing is that a spiritual foundation must be laid. For this to occur all of those negative associations, relationships, or affiliations (however, you wish to classify them) often times need to be laid to rest. No matter how uncomfortable the process may become, it must be done. Otherwise, you may find yourself unable to progress and leading an unproductive life. This is simply because building your life’s foundation upon unleveled and shaky principles all but insures that eventually there will come a time when you will have to do some serious rehabilitation and renovation. The earlier you learn this, the more fruitful and progressive of a life you will lead.
Discovery of one’s purpose involves several factors and is essential in establishing the proper foundation for one’s life. Having the right mindset, the right affiliations, the right perspective and a spiritual base are essential. The right foundation allows you to withstand storms and turbulent times that would all but destroy your peers who have laid their life’s groundwork improperly. The true test of how characteristically sound someone is, is adversity. No adversity, no testimony. No testimony, no growth. No foundation, no hope. No hope, no peace. Nevertheless, there are several ingredients that go into creating a solid foundation. Proper planning, vision, foresight, unshakeable faith, knowledge of self, knowledge of your history, knowledge of your supreme authority, resolve and resilience are just a few of the ingredients one needs to become enlightened to their purpose and the divine design their Creator has for their life.
Yet another key ingredient in laying the proper foundation for one’s life is a dependable support system. Anyone that has ever realized any sort of success knows that for every success there have surely been countless "failures". This is one of the main reasons why establishing a solid support system is extremely important. Resilient and successful people have phenomenal support systems. This is not by accident or coincidence (Nothing that ever happens to us is accidental or coincidental).
You have heard all of the clichés’:
There’s strength in numbers
Two heads are better than one
It takes an entire village to raise a child
No man is an island, entire of itself
Iron sharpens Iron
The point is that laying the proper foundation coupled with having a dependable support system assures eventual success. Laying the proper foundation - whatever the endeavor - is a thing of true beauty to progressive people and true beauty that is just not superficial but is the result of an extraordinary evolutionary process.
Despite what may come and what circumstances may arise, being properly grounded keeps you focused. This is why it is so important to have an unshakeable support system. Successful people understand this. Successful people also understand the importance of having individuals around them that challenge them to overachieve and never settle for less than their best. It is also important that you understand that you will definitely meet with opposition when your actions and beliefs are rooted in positivity and spirituality. Nevertheless, no matter the opposition stay the course. A strong foundation and support system all but assures that you won’t quit when the going gets rough. Hence the importance of solidifying your foundation..... so when time and chance happens for you, you are grounded enough to handle success.
Lastly, always remember that the successful person is the one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.
Despite what may come and what circumstances may arise, being properly grounded keeps you focused. This is why it is so important to have an unshakeable support system. Successful people understand this. Successful people also understand the importance of having individuals around them that challenge them to overachieve and never settle for less than their best. It is also important that you understand that you will definitely meet with opposition when your actions and beliefs are rooted in positivity and spirituality. Nevertheless, no matter the opposition stay the course. A strong foundation and support system all but assures that you won’t quit when the going gets rough. Hence the importance of solidifying your foundation..... so when time and chance happens for you, you are grounded enough to handle success.
Lastly, always remember that the successful person is the one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.
