After sorting through your CORE and CAPACITY, the next step in discovering God's call on your second half is to understand your CONTEXT. In other words, what's the platform on which to live out your second half. This was tricky for me as I was going through Halftime-- I knew my core was to help people discover purpose, passion and meaning in their lives while making a difference for the kingdom. The context that I explored (and that we encourage all Halftimers to initially explore) was in my current business -- could I guide, coach, inspire and encourage people to discover God's purpose for them and do this with co-workers and clients? I won't go into the details, but my personal ministry just couldn't be leveraged by staying in my business.
After it was clear the answer wasn't to "stay," I explored who to "join." Peter Drucker, Bob Buford's mentor, used to say "Align yourslef with island of health strength." Henry Blackaby phrases it slightly different: "Find out where God is at work and join in." The point is, instead of trying to start your own business or ministry where you can live out your calling, identify the organizations that have credibility and momentum on the issues you have a passion for and join them. Don't re-invent the wheel. This strategy typically forces folks to check their egos at the door. Especially entrepreneurs who aren't comfortable being team players.
Since my calling is to help other people discover their calling, I looked at partnering with several organizations -- high schools, colleges, my church and a variety of parachurch ministries. I also started to entertain the third option of CONTEXT, that is, to start "my own deal". It was at about that time that I realized the "island of health and strength" in the world of helping successful people with a Christian worldview discover the calling, was Halftime -- the very organization that helped me discover my second half purpose.
I ended up finding a great fit with Halftime and didn't go down the path of creating my own ministry. Starting your own ministry, as you may have guessed is the third option for CONTEXT, but should only be pursued after exhausting all your options where you already are or with an "island of health and strength."
The process of exploring these different CONTEXTS is eye-opening, not because it's a good way to ultimately plug in, but because the experience of trying to plug in teaches you even more about your CORE and CAPACITY. Taking "test drives" (or "low cost probes," as we call them) actually refines who you are and what you care about more effectively than just assessment taking, personal analysis and/or prayer. There's no substitute for action and real-life involvement when it comes to learning who God has created you to be.