By Fr. Paul Stewart | The Wells of Donovan | Community of the Crucified One

A Legacy of Prayer and Purpose

Fifty years have passed since the Lord called Eddie Donovan to begin a ministry known as the Homestead Prayer Group. What began in simplicity grew into the larger ministry called the Community of the Crucified One.

The Lord gave Eddie clear instructions: this ministry would be like a railroad station where people from all over the world would come. He was to welcome whosoever, allow the Lord Himself to minister to them, and then let them go. His task was not to hold them, but to bless them with words of wisdom from the Lord, and then release them into their calling.

Discovering True Identity in God

The Question of Who We Are

It takes a process of time to truly know ourselves. Much of our identity is shaped by the opinions of others, leaving us with questions: Who am I? Why was I created? Where am I going?

For those who walk by faith, the answer is clear: I was born for the glory of God—to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him for all eternity.

The Goal That Defines Life’s Purpose

But how do we know God? We will never know Him without having a goal for our lives. That goal is the direct purpose of our existence: to know Him. The difference between living a normal life and an abnormal one is found in that single word—goal.

Without a God-given goal, we fall into neurosis or psychosis. Our destiny becomes controlled by others, by circumstances, or by our failures. Too often we come to the end of our lives saying, I never reached my potential because of the parents I had, the lack of education, or the resources I didn’t possess.

The World’s Identity Crisis vs. God’s Truth

When We Live Without Purpose

The world cannot answer the question of identity. It does not know who we truly are or where we are going. If we allow the world to guide us, we live abnormally.

In matters of faith, every person lives out one role or another. Either we live with the goal of knowing God, or we live with excuses: I could not become what I wanted because of my situation. I am stuck where I am.

When we fail to embrace God’s purpose, neurosis and psychotic behaviors creep in. Why? Because without a God-given goal, we do not know the true purpose of our lives.

Born with a Need for God

To know our purpose, we must understand that no one is born without God. Some may claim they do not believe in Him, but within every heart there is an instinct and desire to know God. Built into us is a spiritual need for Him. When man refuses to find God, he will create his own or make himself into a god.

False Gods and Lost Identity

Ancient Patterns of Idolatry

History proves this. Along the Nile, in fear of crocodiles, people created a crocodile god. When corn became the basis of existence, they created a corn god. Humanity has always had this instinct to form gods out of fear or dependence.

The Truth About Our Identity

Serving a god is not unique to believers. What makes one abnormal is the refusal to serve God, siding with the world’s illusion that such denial is “normal.” The truth is this: our identity is found in our Creator and His purpose for our lives.

The opposite is sin—the influence that denies God’s existence and rejects our true identity.

The author is on the board of directors of the Community of the Crucified One  in Homestead, Pennsylvania