Every now and then, I check the insights of my Pure Purpose Facebook page, probably not as often as experts might recommend. My page is for encouragement, and I don’t spend much time trying to expand the reach. In my opinion, it grows as people find value and share with others. If one person is encouraged or challenged each day, I think the page’s purpose is fulfilled.
Every now and then, I am surprised by the reach a particular post has. It doesn’t always make sense to me. It seems fairly consistent. The reach goes up and down. I usually have a couple posts that go well beyond my page’s community, some posts that are fairly ignored, and the remainder that fall somewhere in between. Last month, I noticed a post that reached about the maximum reach I’ve seen. The at-a-glance graphic shows the ups and downs of a 30-day period. Where that yellow arrow is pointing? That small peak was at the top of the graphic. It was at the height at the time.
About a week later, I noticed the insight bar under a post on my page. The number was far above what I was used to seeing. I clicked to the insight page and glanced at the graph. That mountain peak I had seen the previous week? It looked like a tiny bump compared to the mountain beside it. I took a screenshot of the graph, not because it really meant anything significant concerning my page, but because it meant something far beyond it.
Sometimes what we experience as tough mountains to summit are small training hills along our journey. Sometimes what we experience as a wonderful mountaintop of joy is just a quick glimpse of the possibilities of what’s to come.
Our perspective is limited. We simply cannot fathom the fullness of every experience in context. But it helps to simply know every experience fits into a much broader context of past and future. We can appreciate where we are, what opportunities and responsibilities we can embrace, and how our faith can grow through it all. When we feel overwhelmed by a steep climb or discouraged by a low valley, we can find comfort in our preparation and hope for the future. When we feel exhilarated on a mountain top or a downward coast, we can pause to appreciate the beauty…but not stop too long to get stuck.
Our experiences impact our perspectives, but let’s not be limited and minimize the hope and possibilities ahead.
Pure Purpose 