By Tonya S. Swindell

While attending my oldest son’s basketball tournament, I saw a man whom I presumed to be a proud father wearing an athletic T-shirt that read, “Know Your Flow.”

I liked the shirt and thought of how important it is for a basketball player to identify what helps him or her get into the mental and physical aspects of a game. What works for one person may not work for another, so recognizing individual “flow” is essential.

I also considered how important it is to identify purpose and passion. Pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” stated, “Purpose always produces passion. Nothing energizes like a clear purpose.”

Six days after seeing the wise parent wearing a T-shirt that inspired others to know their flow, I saw a playful, fast-moving toddler wearing a different T-shirt that read, “In my Zone.”

As the child moved spryly from one activity to another, I thought of how kinetic spiritual energy flows through individuals who are operating in their gifts. As it flows, our zones of opportunity expand, and God enlarges our territory.

A song called “In the Zone,” by rapper PL, helps my son focus before basketball games. Some lyrics say, “Now who can stop me? I’m in the zone. Competitions none in a league of my own.”

From my experience, a passionate pursuit of purpose, combined with conscientious development of personal gifts and talents produces a flow that will not be stopped.

Recently, the world acknowledged two men who displayed passion while pursuing their purpose. Jackie Robinson broke the racial color barrier in Major League Baseball by playing a game that he loved. People honored his 69th anniversary of taking the field as a Brooklyn Dodger on April 15.

Six days later, saddened fans mourned the death of Prince Rogers Nelson, or “Prince,” who transcended barriers as a gifted musical artist.

God has given each of us good gifts. Prayer, questionnaires and educational materials can help us identify what they are. Kingdom Building Equipping School offers free classes and Bible study that can help people recognize, understand and operate in God-given spiritual gifts and callings. Personality tests, interest assessments and spiritual gift analyses are also available online.

Mastery of one’s gift causes a person to flow within a zone of purposeful fulfillment. And since gifts and talents are individualized, a person may proclaim, “What God has for me is for me.”

Combining slogans from the T-shirts I saw produces a powerful message: “Know your flow so you can get into a zone and fulfill your God-given purpose.”

“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings… Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies so that God will be glorified through Jesus Christ — to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 TLB)

Tonya Swindell writes a blog for www.inspirenewlife.org and a teacher for Kingdom Building Equipping School (KBES.com). She can be reached at 1brightot@gmail.com.