Yes!  You are in!  Work.  Most of us complain about it.  Yet very interesting play of the day.  The correlation of free time and depression.  Make sense, if you are living life and feel like you are not fulfilling a purpose, that can be depressing and empty.  Here's the good news.  You do have a purpose.  You are here for a reason.  Here you go...

Thank you Pastor Rick Warren, a mainstay on our play of the days.  If you would like to hear more of that play, check out Daily Hope, that one is entitled "The Purpose of Work, Part 2", published on the 11th of March 2024.

You have a purpose.  You do.  How do I know that?  Jer 29:11.  You don't believe that?  Well, that's on you.  Your choice.  For those that believe, that is an epic verse and promise.

A few years back, the FriDudes tackled a book called "Halftime" by Bob Shank.  Epic read.  Life changing for some of us.  Further back, we also read "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.  Yes, that Rick.  Game changing for some of us.  Why just some of us?  Your choice.  Your choice to read and your choice to implement.

So game changing that we have a FriDudes named Greg.  He's been featured before.  He was so moved by especially Half Time that he created something that we call Gcrosssurf.org.  In the midst of a rebrand.  Things in the works.  Stay tuned.  Bottom line, Greg set out to better identify, goal/life plan/God's plan, write it down make it happen.  Identify strength and confess weaknesses.  Super bold.  Not for the faint of heart.

Back to the HalfTime book, tracked a bunch of guys that made a bunch of money.  In particular some Exxon retired execs.  Worked hard, retired, comfy, played, golf and on average died 10 years too early on average.  Many depressed, lost their purpose.  Their former jobs were their identity.  No longer needed.  Again, lost.  Some of you are now way, you are saying I never have to worry about money and I can be depressed and empty?  Yep, have you read David or King Solomon?  Then, yes!  Ever wonder why the rich and famous overdose and die...repeatedly?  There you go.

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-9 NLT - Bible.com

Hang in there.  Full circle.  Yet if you tune in.  Ask God why and keep pursuing, match your gifts into service and your heart will overflow...

Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28
New International Version
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.