S3E6: From Career to Calling with Jeremy Beaty

Host Leslie Pagel interviews Jeremy Beaty about living “to the beat of our own drum” after he left a comfortable chemical engineering career to attend Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and prepare to go overseas with his wife to do God’s work. Jeremy describes growing up near Houston, studying chemical engineering at Texas A&M, and coming to faith in Christ the summer before his final semester after exploring multiple belief systems, including Islam, veganism, Mormonism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and New Age ideas. He explains how conversion and sanctification deepened his desire to study Scripture, discern God’s will through prayer, alignment with the Bible, and affirmation from other believers, and how mixed reactions from others didn’t deter him. Leslie reflects on purpose found not only within oneself but also by devotion to something outside oneself - God.

00:00 Welcome

00:47 Jeremy’s Career Pivot

07:54 Searching for Truth

10:59 Beyond Religion and Veganism

14:41 Seed Grows After College

15:53 Sanctification and Calling

20:06 Inward and Outward Discernment

27:04 Reactions and Doubts

32:30 Faith Object Not Strength

37:05 Advice and Closing Reflections

39:44 Host Takeaways and Disclaimer

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Transcript

Leslie 0:04

Welcome back to Purpose Project. I'm Leslie Pagel, and this season we're exploring what it means to live to the beat of our own drum. In today's episode, I sit down with Jeremy Beaty, who made a bold and unexpected decision. To leave a very comfortable career as a chemical engineer to pursue the word of God. His journey continues later this year as he'll be leaving to go overseas to do God's work. This episode is about what it looks like to follow a path that doesn't always make sense from the outside. Let's take a listen. Jeremy, thank you for joining me on Purpose Project Season three is all about living to our own drumbeat, and I'm really looking forward to having this conversation with you.

Jeremy 0:59

Well, thanks so much for having me, Leslie.

Leslie 1:02

Absolutely. One of the things I would love to start with is how might someone feel like you live to your own drumbeat?

Jeremy 1:13

Yeah, I grew up in. The Houston, Texas area and, had a pretty normal suburban childhood and grew up really interested in math and chemistry, or at least I was pretty good at it. And so I went to college at Texas a and m University and studied chemical engineering and was excited to join what I saw as the. The standard, path of achievement in the United States, which was to get out of college with a good degree and get a good job and make some good money and, build a home and mm-hmm hopefully get married someday. and all of that was working quite fine until. My, final semester of college, I was on a spiritual journey of searching out for truth, I suppose. And trying to find like, well, what is there for me to hold onto that actually gives meaning and purpose and, uh, and drive to my life just to give it meaning, and, and then it. I guess it, it's, it's a long story, but hit me like a train my final semester of college that really, Jesus Christ came and found me and saved me. Mm-hmm. And became my Lord. And, this was nothing changed dramatically right when it happened. But, that was like this seed that was planted in my life that started to grow and it begins to grow under the dirt. And I, I couldn't even really identify what was happening at the time. So I just, I went ahead with my plan. I graduated from college. I got my degree in chemical engineering, and I, I started working for a company which makes all sorts of different chemicals. And I worked at various chemical plants around the United States. I worked in, Ohio and West Virginia and Tennessee. And then I moved back to the Houston area and was working at a chemical plant there. And all the while this, this seed started to sprout. while, while I was working and, I started to recognize this deep abiding interest I had in God's word in the Bible, in the pursuit of Jesus. And it's not that that was in conflict with what I was doing. Mm-hmm. Chemical engineering wasn't in conflict with that pursuit. But he did start speaking to me, through prayer, through people he brought into my life, very specifically my now wife that he brought into my wife while I was working in Houston. And he told me that he had different plans for me than I had had for myself. my vision for my life was. Not his. And frankly, it wasn't big enough, which is normally, I think our problem is that our visions aren't big enough mm-hmm. For our lives. and so he led me and I actually left my career after five years practicing chemical engineering professionally. And decided to go to seminary here in the Philadelphia area at Westminster Theological Seminary. And this was a, a very quick career shift and quite dramatic, that I don't think my family and friends quite understood when it happened, because. I was making good money and comfortable and living a nice, just living a nice American dream sort of life. but I met Alison, my now wife, and she had a calling from God to work overseas, in the mission field. We dated long distance for a while while she was actually living in Central Asia And while she was living over there, we're dating long distance. I went to visit her multiple times and probably spent a grand total of something like nine or 10 weeks in that part of the world and was really praying and asking God. Okay. Are you calling me to marry this woman, Allison? and if so, are you calling me to work overseas over here with her? Is there something for me over here? Because, it seems like she has a clear calling from you to work over here and God does not give contrary callings and I was affirmed in my prayers that there actually is work for me over there specifically in ministry, in sharing the good news of Jesus. and this whole process of discernment, like I said, just led me to completely pivot in my career choices and, and move on to something different. And so now we're preparing for this, this trip abroad. We're actually planning to leave this very summer and, and it's all in the works. so I think that that's kinda like the physical manifestation that gave a shock to people in my life. But the real dramatic, element of it, the source of it all, was really that growing relationship in Christ.

Leslie 6:58

Right. When I hear your story, Jeremy, what I hear is I was headed down this path and I felt like this was the path that I was supposed to do because that's. What we do, we go to college, we then get a degree, then we go and we do this job. But the, the against the grain is in doing that. I got connected to something bigger, my higher purpose, my meaning. And in doing that, you said, I'm gonna live my drumbeat. I'm going to. Leave this job that provides me comfort in terms of monetary comfort for this other path.

Jeremy 7:43

yes, that's right.

Leslie 7:45

You mentioned that the seed was planted in that last semester of college.

Jeremy 7:53

Mm-hmm.

Leslie 7:54

Can you take us back to Jeremy at that time of your life What do you think was underneath this pursuit of finding more meaning and purpose,?

Jeremy 8:06

Yeah, And it shows in the fact that I, ev I even chose engineering as a career is like, it's a very. Straightforward, logical, mathematical sort of field and that that's how my brain works. And, I, I really saw the logic in it that if there wasn't some sort of higher power, if there was no, nothing more than the material world that we live in and experience than. Then ultimately the, the conclusion I would have to come to is something nihilistic. I would, I would have to say that, all that everything is subjective. It just depends on whose, whose opinion, we're talking about. There's no inherent, factual basis for reality whatsoever. There's no inherent meaning to it. and I wasn't, I wasn't willing to give into that conclusion, which I thank God for. And in this time while I was searching through, what I considered to be the highest contenders for the truth, I looked into various religions and I wouldn't say I'm a, you know, I'm no scholar on all religions. but none of them could make sense of the world that I lived in the way that, that Jesus could. Mm-hmm. And, my conversion to believing in Christ was. textbook, according to the Bible that I had a conviction of my sin, which was that my pursuit of truth ultimately was me looking into myself trying to find a way to fulfill my desires. Mm-hmm. And he convicted me and said that is, that is not, that that's not according to God's character. He doesn't want us to look into our desires. He wants us to look to him. His good desires because he, because goodness itself is, defined by who he is. It's his character. It's not something separate from him, right? He is goodness. And so we have to be in relationship with him to even understand what goodness is. So that's, I mean, that's the wonderful news of the gospel. And it doesn't exist in any worldview or ideology or religion outside of the Christian faith. Yeah. The Christian faith is the only religion that has mercy and justice together in perfect harmony.

Leslie 10:41

Hmm. so in this semester of college, it sounds like you were exploring religion Yes. As a means for helping you understand what is purpose in life mean?

Jeremy 10:58

Yes.

Leslie 10:59

Was there anything else that you were exploring at this time or was it mostly just, the different types of religions and and that.

Jeremy 11:08

I mean, it'd be interesting how you define a religion, which is sort of like, where, where does my worship lie? Like what is the, mm-hmm. What is the highest value that I have in my life that I'm aiming my life towards in a way we could say is the, is my ultimate affection and, and in a way therefore is a, is God to me. Mm-hmm. and so it wasn't like. Only what we classically define as religions like Yeah, I did look into Islam, but I also became a very dedicated vegan. Okay. And in, in an interesting way, veganism to me, acted as a religion. That it had its own, its own ideology and framework that I abided by. It had its own. Ritual practices that mm-hmm. And really, ultimately it's just because that's the thing that consumed my mind. That's the thing that had my affections and had my daily obedience that made it a religion to me. And I think that is true of all humans, whether they admit it or not, is that everyone worships. At a really basic level, everyone has an object of warship. and sometimes it's, it's hard to pin down exactly what it is, but you know, it could, it could be money is a really common one, right? It could be I want to pursue money and make as much as possible. It could be things that seem really good. It could be my family. Mm-hmm. I want to nurture and my family and honor them and, Ultimately there is only one, there's, there's only one object of our ultimate affection and worship that is not sinful to worship, which is God himself, the triune God of the Bible is the only one that can truly receive worship because he is ultimately worthy. And so I was, I was going through different things. Islam Veganism, Mormonism, Hari Krishnas, if you've ever heard of that.

Leslie 13:13

Yeah.

Jeremy 13:14

That group. Astro Theology. Kind of like Zodiac.

Leslie 13:18

Uhhuh. Okay.

Jeremy 13:19

New, new Age sort of, philosophy, Buddhism and Hinduism. And, so I, so I had a real exploration of these things.

Leslie 13:28

And it started in this last semester, but you described it as a seed that was planting.

Jeremy 13:36

Mm-hmm.

Leslie 13:36

And it was growing underneath the surface. Mm-hmm. so what I imagine there is at this time in your life, you're exploring all these different religions. You're finding that Jesus Christ, Is in most alignment with, with your, you are finding a connection there.

Jeremy 13:59

Mm-hmm.

Leslie 13:59

and then you graduate, did you, were you in college when you, felt that connection to God? Or were you still exploring all the different religions? and then that came later.

Jeremy 14:14

It was the summer before my last semester of college. I did five and a half years for my bachelor's. And so the summer before my final fall semester, I. Came to Christ, decided to get baptized. interestingly on the same day that my mom also decided to get baptized. So I think God was doing a work in our family, we both came to that independently.

Leslie 14:37

Right.

Jeremy 14:38

but yeah, so I was still in college.

Leslie 14:40

Okay. And then you graduate and at this time, are you thinking. Like, my life is gonna be, I'm gonna have this job that's in alignment with the skills that I bring into this world.

Jeremy 14:56

Mm-hmm.

Leslie 14:56

And while I do that, I'm gonna, live a religious life. is that what you thought life was gonna look like?

Jeremy 15:03

That's exactly what I thought. Um, I became a devoted reader of the Bible. Every day. Basically keeping up a schedule where I could read the entire book once each year, read the Bible a year.

Leslie 15:17

so you graduate college, the seed's planted. Mm-hmm. It's within you now, but your life is, I've got this job that aligns with my skills. so, now, you're living that life, but how is that seed growing in you and. What eventually changes to the point where you say, I'm gonna go against the, the grain here of, what I thought life was supposed to be and I'm gonna make this, career choice. What was happening, within you or outside of you

Jeremy 15:53

Yeah, I think it just has to do with. My relationship with God in all of this, that at the time of conversion, when I repent and I come to believe in Jesus and I'm baptized, there is a decisive change that happens in the heart of a believer. God tells us in his word that he gives us a new heart when this happens, that we had a heart of stone and he gives us a heart of flesh. So there's a distinct change that happens in the believer where once we were daily rebels against God. Now by his grace we've been made new, that we're a new creation with a new life and a new spirit. He gifts us with his Holy Spirit to walk by it in newness of life. So there's a dramatic and definite change that happens at the time of conversion. And so I think. in a very real sense, the going against the grain begins right then, because God is the one who is doing works, who has purposes that are counter to our interpretation of the world.

Leslie 17:01

Mm-hmm.

Jeremy 17:02

he's, his plans are bigger than ours. His. Uh, his purposes cannot be co comprehended by us. And so, you know, he had all this in mind to begin with. But then there, there's a process that begins when we come to faith, which we call sanctification, which is, through communion with God, through our walk with him, through reading his word, through prayer, through, going to church and hearing the word preached through the taking of. The communion elements at church, we actually grow deeper and deeper in our relationship with him, and he changes the affections of our heart more and more to be in alignment with his will. So the Bible, in the Bible, God promises saying that, to those that believe in him, he will give them the desires of their heart. And it's an interesting thing to say because in other places in the Bible it says the heart is desperately wicked. Who can know it? And you would think, well, how do those go together? Why would I want the desires of my heart if they're wicked? Well, the answer is because God is doing a work in our hearts to change our desires, to be in alignment with the good and the righteous and the holy to be in alignment with his. His goodness, his will. And so then as he changes our desires to good desires, he then fulfills those desires and becomes the ultimate object of them. Mm-hmm. And so as this work of sanctification happens, really for me over a process of five years while I'm working as an engineer, the relationship I have with God deepens and deepens and deepens, and I get better at discerning. His will for my life. He's changing my desires. He's, he's, he's doing a work in me that I, I never would've been able to do of my own effort. I couldn't have conceived of it. and his timing is ultimately, Well, his, his timing, he times everything. Basically, we, we don't really have an ultimate hand or control over timing of things. And he was growing my heart in the direction of this career shift. Yeah. Without me even knowing. And then when it was time for it to happen, he made it evidently clear to me, Hey, it's time I'm calling you now to leave this job, to leave the comfort of this. salary and to come to seminary and study my word. I'm calling you to marry this woman. I'm calling you to go work overseas, in a poor country that really needs help. Mm-hmm. And because he had been doing this work in my heart, I listen to him. Yeah. And, it's all by grace. it's not like all of a sudden I'm. This righteous person that can now like, do great things. No, he's, he's forming and molding me and doing work on my heart and bringing me to this discernment.

Leslie 20:04

Yeah. so take us to that moment? You, you mentioned that. You're learning and in, and in that learning, that connection is growing bigger and bigger. and but you mentioned that it became really clear to you what you were being called to do.

Jeremy 20:24

Mm-hmm.

Leslie 20:24

What did that look like? how was it so clear? Was it a feeling? Was it like something that happened? What, what was it that that gave you the clarity?

Jeremy 20:36

Yeah, I think there are two aspects to it. and one of them is looking inward,

Leslie 20:44

Uhhuh,

Jeremy 20:45

but I think Al also there's a looking outward aspect mm-hmm. To the calling. So the inward aspect is, a listening to God's spirit in our heart. Because now that, now that I'm a believer, he's gifted me with his Holy Spirit. he dwells within my heart. And as I pray, as I read his word, he enlightens me to understanding. and there there's an affirmation that happens with the Holy Spirit in a, in a calling. You know this, this idea props up, Hey, I have an interest in going to seminary. I turn to prayer, I turn to reading God's word. And, it's a, it's a mystery really how the Holy Spirit works. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit, kind of like the wind, like it comes and it goes, and you, you don't really know mm-hmm. Exactly how it, how it works or where it's going. But the thing is, is that. God ultimately knows how he's directing and when, when he's doing a work with his spirit, it's going to be done. And he's, and his communication does not fail when he means to communicate something, he does it because he is an effective communicator to his people. And so I can't describe an exact process of that inward looking at the spirit or exactly what that listening or discernment looks like, but. It's vitally important in the mm-hmm. In the Christian life. And then the outward calling is being in conversation with, with other believers, especially with a calling like mine to ministry that there needs to be an affirmation from a church body and church leadership that people outside of me affirm. Yes. You do have these gifts to go study the word of God. You do it. It does appear to us that God is opening doors for you in this pursuit. So, you know, and that there's, there's like a protection in that because, you know, even with the Holy Spirit, I can, I can misunderstand, and that's, you know, I'm talking about God being a perfect communicator. He is, but I'm not a perfect listener. And so if there is a misunderstanding, it's, it's my sin that's standing in the way. Normally, it's, it's my pride. but having that outside affirmation and other people looking at me can help affirm what I think I'm hearing from God. because the Holy Spirit is, God is one. And so it's a, it's a conversation that happens, a calling that's affirmed and yeah, I mean, ultimately, like, like I'm saying, it's a, it's a work of God's spirit.

Leslie 23:40

Yeah. So what I hear there is. Both the kind of the in inward and in the outward. the n word was very much of listening, paying attention, listening. And what I am imagining from what I'm hearing is that you're not just listening, but you're o like completely open to whatever it is that you're going to hear. You know, you're not kind of closed off, but you're. you're paying attention, you're listening, and you're open and gonna trust whatever it is that comes your way. And then the outward thing is this, these two things lined up, like I was hearing this inside.

Jeremy 24:29

Hmm.

Leslie 24:30

And then it was validated outside as well, and that gave me this clarity and conviction that this is what I need to do now.

Jeremy 24:43

Yes, that's exactly right. And I would have to add very importantly that it also aligns with God's written word, that God would never call us to something that is contrary to his word, that he has spoken. And so if I think I have a calling to do. Anything, and I go to God's word and, he's against that thing. Then it's not a calling from him that has come from my own prideful desires.

Leslie 25:10

Yeah. So how do you know that then, how do you know the difference between the calling that you think is a calling, you know, be a chemical engineer versus what the real calling is?

Jeremy 25:25

Well, I think chemical engineering was my calling. I don't think it was a false calling. I think God really did want me to be in that field and to work and grow in my professional competencies. Mm-hmm. so it's, it's not, it's not like I was charting off away from God in my pursuit of a secular profession. And I think that. Any such profession is, is and can be very glorifying to God. Mm-hmm. And he calls lots of people to work in, in such fields to, to his glory. there's a discernment that has to happen with those gifts, and, and how they should be applied. And, and like we were talking about too, that outward affirmation of doors opening. God opens doors for things that he wants to happen. And, Yeah. It, it, it is mysterious. Yeah. And, I, for, for me personally, it wasn't that chemical engineering was this awful field that I couldn't stand and I need to get outta here. It was, I don't think anything other than going to seminary and, and studying God's word is going to be satisfying

Leslie 26:44

Right.

Jeremy 26:44

For me.

Leslie 26:45

Right.

Jeremy 26:46

So it wasn't like engineering in itself was this one thing to get away from.

Leslie 26:52

Yeah. I very much hear you weren't running away from something, but you were, instead you were really running towards something that had a deep connection. So take me to this time period when you had the clarity. And you say, this is what I'm gonna do. how was that perceived, by those around you in that time period? Was there ever any doubt as you started acting on it?

Jeremy 27:20

Well, I certainly got mixed responses. I remember in my workplace when I communicated to my boss that I was going to leave and told him the reason, he was completely taken off guard. He, he did not see this coming. And, certainly he does not understand the. spiritual source behind it. Mm-hmm. and, and we, we've had conversations about Christ and I think normally that's where the conflict comes in, specifically when we get to talking about Jesus as opposed to the, like, physical man manifestations of my pursuit of Jesus. Mm-hmm. opposite responses. I can see that. and you know, I, I think people just have different discernment Yeah. As, as the, what makes sense, as they, as they read, someone's trajectory, I suppose. and, and family responses mixed as well. I, my entire family is supportive. Of, again, like the, the outward course career course. No one was like, oh no, you shouldn't leave your job and go to grad school, to seminary. they were all supportive of the move because they could see that I was all in on it.

Leslie 28:45

Yeah.

Jeremy 28:46

but then again, at the core impetus for it. Talking about Jesus leading me in this, that's where the disagreement could happen, where my family's actually split, where some of them completely understand and say, yes, in amen. Go follow Jesus. And some of them who are not following Jesus do, do not, understand that though, supportive of just my pursuit.

Leslie 29:18

Was there ever anyone or people that said something that made you think, what am I doing?

Jeremy 29:32

Huh?

Leslie 29:33

Or made you question

Jeremy 29:38

Yes. There's, there's questioning that happens. Certainly. I have a good friend from college named Josh, and we, we kind of went through that spiritual, discernment period together in college, but he has not come to Christ and so we're, we're at odds, theologically and philosophically now. but we, we always bonded over. Music and, and playing guitars together. And making bands throughout college. And when I, when I told him I was leaving my career to go to seminary, he was like, oh man, no, you should, you should go study music'cause you're so gifted in that. And I, I think it was, it's, it's a very appealing thing to, to my heart to be like, oh, you know what? I am gifted in music. that would be a fun pursuit. But see, by God's grace, he didn't allow the notion to take root in my heart in the same way. and that, you know, I don't see that as a denial of my gifts. In fact, God's actually calling me to use my musical musical abilities in ministry that this calling we have abroad, there's actually a need for musicians that my wife and I both can step into and help with. so he's actually planning to use those gifts of mine in ways I could not have foreseen. but yeah, I think there are always going to be conflicting calls. Mm-hmm. And, you know, I'm not gonna point and say that it's always some nefarious force that's trying to deceive me. though sometimes it is. I, I do believe there. Evil forces in the world as well. but, but in a lot of ways too, God uses these antica to help solidify and affirm what I'm actually called to, to, to really think it through, So I think it makes all the sense in the world that, there would be conflict in

Leslie 31:45

Yeah.

Jeremy 31:46

In the decision making.

Leslie 31:47

Yeah. Well, and it's human nature too. To evaluate, and to be responsive to what we're hearing around each other. And as, as you were talking, I was imagining this, this thing that you talked about earlier, the inward listening and the outward validation. That doesn't happen. At at one single time. Like that's a continuous cycle. And so as you're making this life choice and you're getting this feedback at the same time, I'm picturing you listening and getting the external validations along your path as well. So, one of the things that I, believe is that people that live their own drumbeat, that they make courageous leaps, that they go against the grain. I believe that there is, something within them that. That their own beliefs are so strong and that that strength of their belief is what pushes them forward and gives them the courage to go against the grain, gives them the courage to be authentic in their living of their life. And when I hear you talk, I hear this unwavering belief system about. what you're meant to do in this world let's look back before your last semester of college. Your last year of college.

Jeremy 33:29

Yep.

Leslie 33:29

Where did you feel like. In, in those years you had a, like, you had strong beliefs too.

Jeremy 33:37

oh, yeah. I, I held those very strongly. I was absolutely convinced that like, take veganism for example, fully 100 per percent convinced it was immoral to eat animals in any capacity, fully convinced it was the healthiest way to live. Fully convinced that. animal agriculture was the number one contributor to global warming, and that the best thing any of us can do to save the planet is to stop eating animals. I was all in, I was literally in the streets at protests outside of, slaughterhouse trying to evangelize and convince others of this belief system. I was so sure of. I would draw a distinction between all of these other belief systems and belief in Christ, which is that all of those systems, it is based on the strength of my belief is that if I believe it really strongly, then I'll be bold and courageous in it. Mm-hmm. And I think every religion in the world, except for Christianity, functions in that manner. But Christianity is. radically different in that it is not the strength of the belief that matters at all. But rather it's the object of the belief that is strong and that is Christ, that he is strong. And so he tells us in, in his word, that if you would just have faith the size of a mustard seed, a tiny little mustard seed, you could say to that mountain, be lifted up and and cast into the sea. And it would obey you. And so his, his point is, it's not, it's not up to you to be the most believing and deeply strong person, but rather he's acknowledging that in our flesh and in in this fallen world, we as humans are weak. And, and the beauty of the gospel is that in our weakness. Through our lack of faith, God can actually work mightily because even though we have a tiny bit of faith, the size of a mustard seed, that faith is in the object of ultimate strength, which is God.

Leslie 36:01

as you're saying, that I'm finding myself thinking Jeremy is one that in his lifetime he has held strong convictions, strong beliefs. But in this journey, you've now shifted that from the, the belief is in the object instead of. within me, I put my belief in God and through him, he works through me instead of the belief in me.

Jeremy 36:32

yeah, yeah, that's, that's exactly right. And the kind of a silly example of it is, if I have really strong faith in thin ice, I'm gonna walk out on that thin ice and I'm gonna fall right through. If I have a little bit of faith in really thick ice, I'm gonna walk out on the ice and I'm gonna be totally fine.

Leslie 36:51

Mm-hmm.

Jeremy 36:52

it wasn't the faith that that guaranteed my survival in walking on this ice, but it was the object of the faith.

Leslie 37:02

Right. Yes. That is a good example. So in wrapping up here, we'd love to put yourself in the situation of someone who, may be feeling the internal voice and the external validation, but not yet. not to that point where they're going to make the leap. Any advice that you have for that person,

Jeremy 37:28

I would tell them to get into the word. To, to get into the Bible. Ultimately, all of us outside of Christ pursue the exaltation of ourselves. We are. The Bible tells us that we are conceived in sin by nature, we are sinful by nature, we are rebels against God, and Jesus has promised us that if we would turn to him, put our, lay our sins before the foot of his cross and receive his forgiveness, that. He will give us newness of life. He's promised that to us. And so I would say that's where people need to turn. the inward looking and the outward affirmation is secondary. That will happen as a result of God leading in someone's life. But the first step is they have to recognize their creator for who he is. He's revealed himself. primarily in the person of Jesus Christ coming to us, God with us. And, Jesus is the hope of this world.

Leslie 38:43

Yeah. Anything else left unsaid from your perspective?

Jeremy 38:51

No, I think, I feel pretty good.

Leslie 38:54

I appreciate you sharing your story, helping us really dig into those points, those pivotal points in your journey that, gave you the clarity, gave you the, the courage, I don't know if courage is the right word, but really kind of ena enacted you into, Living your life, to the beat of your drum. I, I do think there's so many people out there that, let social norms or other people's expectations hold them back. And hearing stories like yours and others that were featuring on season three, I'm hopeful, will give other people some opportunity to really, connect in to what their calling is and pursue it. As I reflect on my conversation with Jeremy, I keep coming back to something that he shared about purpose. He didn't discover purpose by going inward. He discovered it by placing purpose on something outside of himself on God. That perspective is different from my own journey. In my journey, I've spent a lot of time looking within, trying to understand my nature, my rhythm, my passions, my purpose, and that path has taught me so much. This conversation with Jeremy has opened my eyes to another perspective. That purpose doesn't always have to start from within. It can come from something that we devote ourselves to, something that we trust to guide us. I don't know what this new perspective. Means for me personally. But I do know that this has expanded my thinking. It's challenged my assumptions, and it's reminded me that there isn't just one way to live a life of purpose. Jeremy, thank you for being on Purpose Project, and thanks to all of you for tuning in. Keep listening to Your Rhythm and staying open to the ways in which. It may be revealed to you Purpose Project is brought to you for education and for entertainment purposes. This podcast is not intended to replace the advice that you would receive from a licensed therapist or doctor or any other qualified professional.