I Do Solemnly Swear....

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I remember vividly the first time I ever raised my right hand and repeated the Oath of Office. I was a young nineteen year old heading off to what what would be a fantastic career in the United States Air Force.  There's something almost magical as you stand there and repeat this simple oath.  Even today I still get goose bumps when I hear it, or witness someone else taking the Oath of Office.

Whether one has served in the Military, or any other occupation that requires an oath, there will come a time in each life when you will have to make a solemn pledge.  This pledge, this commitment to something, is what should drive you, encourage you, and quite frankly should be the one thing that pushes your butt out of bed each morning.

I was having a conversation with two remarkable ladies from California the other day.  They were traveling with one of the ladies daughters who was here in Maine looking at colleges.  As is pretty normal when I get into any discussion I was talking about destiny and making a decision to commit to your destiny.  The one question that almost always comes up is how do I know if I have discovered my destiny?  My answer is always the same:  it's your passion.  It's that one thing that is a burning ember inside of you and no matter what life has thrown at you, that ember will never fade.  Your destiny is why you are here, and your destiny is the one thing, the only thing really, that will bring you fulfillment.

So let me ask you, have you made a solemn pledge to go after that one thing that simply won't go away?  Have you decided that come hell or high water you are going to go after those things that bring you joy, bring you peace, and that brings you unlimited happiness?  I've spent so many years going after things that were simply fillers.  If I could accomplish something great, then I would have all that I wanted.  Well let me tell you that accomplishing something great simply to ease the emptiness that is inside is not discovering and walking in your destiny.  Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with doing something great.  But doing something great, and knowing you are doing what you were born to do, is something completely different most of the time.  If you had told me back in 1978 that I was going to be a published author and public speaker I would have thought you mad.  And yet him I am today doing the one thing that brings me absolute joy.  Everyone on this planet should experience the same thing.  Sadly not everyone will get to this point, and to me that is a the travesty.

I Scott Edward Kauffman do solemnly swear that I will pursue my destiny with everything inside of me.  I Scott Edward Kauffman do solemnly swear that I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend everyone's right to choose to walk in their destiny.  If you haven't swore this oath, or something similar, then you will ultimately fall short of those things you truly desire to do.  As I stated earlier there is nothing wrong with wanting to do something great.  What is wrong is when what you are doing is something that doesn't represent what you were placed here to do.  There comes a time in each life when you are going to come face to face with your own decision of destiny.  You can either hide from it, in which case you will simply be delaying the inevitable, or you can tackle it head on, in which case you will be putting your feet on a path that will lead you to the promised land.

In making any decision one often has two options:  the first is doing what is comfortable, the second is doing what is right.  Doing what is right may not always be the easiest way, but I will tell you from experience it is the better way.  Making a decision to follow your dreams is not always going to fall in line with what others feel is best for you.  Making a decision to accept your destiny is not something that everyone is going to see as sane or even rational.  That being said, following your dreams and destiny is the only thing that is going to bring peace, joy, and happiness to you.

I am getting ready to embark on a different phase of my destiny and this phase is going to require me relocating.  As much as I love change, I would be a liar if I said there was not a bit of trepidation or even fear.  However, with what I want to accomplish I don't have a choice in the matter, I must move forward, and I must be open to what is about to be presented to me.  I get how fear can grip some people, but it's time to put fear away in a lock box, throw away the key to said lock box, and move forward in those things that you know you need to be doing.  I have made a commitment to walking in my destiny, and the oath that I have taken will not allow me to do anything that does not compliment my calling.

It's time that you say to yourself, I do solemnly swear.  I will tell you that the moment you take this oath things will change.   Doors will be open, ideas that you once thought dead and gone will be revived, and all those things that you have dreamt about will all of a sudden be popping up all around you.  There is something divine when you take any oath of office.  You have the opportunity to turn things around for you if you will stand tall, raise you hand, and swear to preserve, protect, and defend your own destiny.  I encourage you to take this oath freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.  If you will do this, then and only then will you see things as they were intended to be.  It is time to raise you hand and step into the office that was always yours to occupy.