I just finished reading 200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One: Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence by Shawn Wood. I love reading about finding your calling and purpose in life and this book was another book of that flavor. One thing that I really enjoyed was Shawn’s take on how all of the seemingly small and insignificant things we do in our lives that we don’t think anyone notices as Huram did as he hammered out the 200 pomegranates on top of the 34 feet tall pillars at the entrance to the temple (1 Kings 6) are a part of our calling and when we do them with excellence they bring glory to God and we fulfill our calling.
Here are some of my highlights and notes from the book:
- In the story of Huram and his two hundred pomegranates we find the artist’s mandate-five essential components of life-artistry: • Get great at something • Do something with that talent • Invest yourself in things that will last and that others will benefit from • Work for an audience of one, because sometimes our best work is seen only by God • Finish what you start.
- An artist is someone-anyone-who creates and cultivates.
- But in order to get great at something, it seems that God intends for us to build upon the foundation of skills and wisdom that he has given us, and not just daydream of skills and talents that we wish we had.
- God desires that we be known not for what we are demolishing, but for what we are building.
- A decision has to be made to be great. You cannot be great at everything, but you have to be great at something. God made you for that purpose.
- “You are great when you serve”