There’s a fascinating moment in the scriptures where Jesus sends Peter fishing for tax money. Not just any fish – but the exact one with a coin in its mouth. It’s mind-blowing: out of countless fish in that sea, one was swimming around carrying the precise amount needed for the temple tax.
That fish didn’t attend seminars or read books about discovering its destiny. It simply lived as a fish until the divine intersection of purpose found it. Sometimes calling works like that – you’re swimming in your natural element when suddenly you realize you’re carrying something specific for your generation and generations to come.
Here’s what’s profound: that fish’s “purpose” wasn’t even about being a fish. It was about being in the right place, at the right time, carrying the right thing. Your purpose might not look like what you’d expect. That fish probably didn’t feel particularly special. It wasn’t the biggest, fastest, or most colorful. It just happened to be the one that swallowed a coin – and that made it essential to God’s plan that day.
That fish didn’t force its way into the story – it was chosen for it. Stop thrashing around trying to manufacture or assert your purpose or calling. Your calling might find you while you’re simply being faithful and diligent in your everyday swim. The key is to stay discerning and responsive to the divine hooks that pull you into moments of significance.
The coin in your mouth – that unique thing you carry – might seem random until the exact moment it’s needed. Just keep swimming. That coin will make sense soon.