Culture Turns Strategy Into A Smoothie 2: When You Know Your Purpose
When I started painting, I did so after the passing of my friend Brian Sleet almost 2 years ago to the day. Sleet, as he was affectionately called by his friends knew his purpose and understood what it meant and required to live purposefully daily. Many in my circle have always asked, “Jeff when are you running for office?” It has come up often over the years and in December 2018 I thought to myself, this is my time to enter the fray. Sleet, just a few nights before he passed away spent time with me discussing an opportunity I had to possibly become state representative in my community. There were many factors that were at play and thankfully that didn’t work out at the time, but I did pick up a paint brush shortly thereafter, and now, I’ve discovered an ability to do something I never even knew existed.
Since then, I’ve created well near 100 works of art and now have the privledge to serve as Interim CEO at an organization I love. Two years ago, neither of those things were what I’d have predicted for myself at the time. Chadwick Boseman, like Brian Sleet, understood purpose. They both embodied it in their work, and had a keen ability to bring it out in other people. Those kinds of individuals never perish, as they exemplify Gods’s call over their lives. With my work at Chicago Scholars and with a paint brush I’m working to do the same. I want to be a living example of God’s call on my life.
That’s the interesting thing about purpose. No matter how hard you choose to run from it, it eventually catches up to you. We are all placed here to do something. I believe it’s something worthwhile and good. The question is, when it comes calling, will you be open and willing to answer.
Thank you Brian and Chadwick for the example. Usually these paintings take me weeks to complete This took me 7 hours yesterday.
“Purpose is the essential element of you, it is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.”
-Chadwick Boseman
Heroes Live In Color 12: Kings Never Die (2020)
36x36
Acrylic on Canvas
#faith
#purposedriven
#chadwickboseman
#briansleetischicago
#leadership
#bettereveryday
#artbyjeffbeckham
