This french term popped into my head today as I was pondering what reflection we were going to share this week.

No, I’m not French nor do I speak the language fluently, I only have a little high school French learnt many, many moons ago.

So let’s explore the meaning of this term & discover it’s context for life. In keeping with the French theme…

I thought we would enjoy the Marie Antoinette Tea as we did in our time together here.

The Definition of raison d’etre is,

the reason, purpose or justification for one’s existence. 

Wow! What a profound term! 

Looking for meaning & purpose 

We all look for purpose & meaning for our existence, don’t we?  For some of us it starts early in childhood. For others it comes a bit later.

Adults often ask children what career they want to pursue when they grow up. This starts the ball rolling in the quest to find the purpose that we’re here for…

I remember as a child I wanted to be an Astronomer (aka an Astrophysicist) because I love the night sky. But as I grew my mathematical abilities fell short of what was needed to pursue this particular career.

I was also fascinated with Archeology, discovering treasures from the past seemed so exciting & I thought this may be my niche as shared in Digging for treasure.

But life got busy with motherhood becoming my main priority, which I absolutely loved & felt a wonderful large part of fulfillment in my Raison d’etre.

However, I still felt a longing, a yearning & deep desire in my heart that there was something more.

A Journey of Discovery

Have you ever felt that my friend?

A longing of the heart that doesn’t seem to get satisfied…

That longing may come to us in a time of financial hardship, relationship troubles or in the loss of someone or something dear to us.

It may come to us in the everyday things of life.

It may come to us in the wee hours of the morn when we just can’t sleep. 

It starts as a longing that morphs into a yearning & when fully grown becomes a passionate desire. 

For something more,

for the real purpose,

for the real meaning

of our existence on planet Earth.

Finding that something more

Thus we set out on the journey of discovery, trying this & that in the somethings more hoping to find that something to fulfill & satisfy that deep desire of our heart…don’t we?

My journey took me to night school, hoping to find my niche as an artist in life drawing, pottery & sculpting but while I enjoyed these & had some talent.

That passionate desire to find the deeper purpose, reason & meaning for my existence just wasn’t satisfied. 

I finally came to the realization that it wasn’t in the somethings that this desire would be fulfilled but in a someone that my heart was yearning for…

At the time I was already married, I had two beautiful daughters & I had wonderful long term friendships…

So who was I longing for in this Raison d’etre quest?

Realizing that the relationship I was yearning for was definitely not a human one but a spiritual one.

As I had started reading the Bible & gone back to my childhood denomination…praying for God to reveal Himself to me.

Then along came two older ladies with a photo of a Clown!

Yes, you have read correctly, two ladies came to my back gate with a photo of a clown! For the full story read  Penang, Pearl of the Orient

At the time I thought I knew God, after all I had been raised in a home that had Christian roots & principles.

But then I read the following about God in His Word,

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also planted eternity in the hearts & minds of each individual [a divinely implanted sense of purpose… that nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]…’

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Ahhh, we find purpose & satisfaction in relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. How? By being born anew of the Spirit, the Spirit of God!

Discovering reason & meaning uncovers purpose

You see my friend, the reason for our existence is that we were created for a special relationship.

Not just any relationship mind but the relationship of all relationships!

This is our purpose, to find this unique relationship with our heavenly Father, God the Creator of the universe, through His Son, Jesus. How? Find out here.

We also find true meaning through & in this relationship with Him. As it’s an eternal bond that becomes more & more meaningful as we allow ourselves to be nurtured in His love & His raison d’etre for us. 

I have found this relationship over the past four decades so exciting & fulfilling in ways that no other relationship or thing has or can satisfy. 

And it’s a continuing journey of discovery with new revelations in every season I travel through with Him.

How about you my friend where are you in your search for raison d’etre (the reason & purpose of your existence)?

Next time we will reflect upon the next chapter of my Book Club’s book, titled Pruning.

Until then,

Jennifer

You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook

Or in Prayer

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