FULL TRANSCRIPT
Let’s start with a quote:
“You may be talented, but you’re not Karnyay West.”
— Karnyay West
A little narcissistic? Maybe. But he’s got a point. None of us are Kanye.
You are you — with your own set of talents, giftings, history, and potential future.
You’re completely unique. And deep down, you know that.
Why? Because God put that in you.
You were made for a reason. And when you discover that, life begins to feel integrated. That’s actually where the word integrity comes from — being whole, being aligned.
When you step into your uniqueness, you become integrated. Integrous. You become you.
The First Time I Felt Like MeI was about 21. I’d just started following God and was helping set up “Snowboarders for Christ” with a bunch of riders. We had a camp planned at Ōhau, and someone asked me to share something for 5 minutes during the worship set.
I was terrified. It was probably the worst message I’ve ever given.
But there was something about it.
The creativity. The storytelling. The teaching. The humor.
It stirred something deep inside me.
Afterward, I remember thinking,
This... this is something I want to get up in the morning for.
The Japanese Have a Word for ThatIkigai.
It means: What gets you up in the morning?
It’s that feeling that today actually matters.
In English, we’ve used words like:
A Biblical Example: AbrahamGenesis 17:5 tells the story of a 99-year-old man named Abram. His wife, Sarah, is 89. God meets him and says:
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham,
for I have made you a father of many nations.”
(Genesis 17:5)
Now — fun fact:
Abraham’s probably thinking,
“Uhh... God, I’m 99. Viagra’s not helping. Sarah’s 89. Are we really doing this?”
Spoiler alert: They do have kids. And those kids become the beginning of the Jewish nation.
But the real point?
God sees your potential — not just who you are now.
God speaks in past tense:
“I have made you the father of many nations.”
Before Abraham saw any of it.
God lives outside of time.
He sees who He created you to be — and He’s calling you toward it.
It’s already in you.
You might not see it yet.
But you feel it.
Let’s Talk About SeasonsAt Lighthouse, we believe we’re in a unique season.
Jaz keeps a 4-year diary, where she records what we do every day. So we can look back and see patterns.
On the same date across four different years:
But we believe it’s a season. A calling. Our Ikigai is deeply connected to Wanaka.
Truth #1: Your Ikigai Is a Work in ProgressYou’re never done figuring it out.
It evolves with:
Moses’ StoryMoses is born a Jew during a genocide. His mum hides him in the river. Pharaoh’s daughter finds him and adopts him.
(Quick note: water is a repeating theme in Moses’ life. Water often symbolizes God's presence.)
He grows up in Egyptian royalty, but he’s torn between two worlds. One day, he kills an Egyptian for beating a Jewish slave. Then he runs into the wilderness.
At a well (yep, water again), he meets a woman, helps her water her sheep… and ends up marrying her.
He becomes a shepherd for 40 years. Far from power, influence, or his old life.
And then God calls him to go back and lead the Jews to freedom.
What happens?
More water.
He parts the Red Sea.
Later, God leads them with fire and cloud. Eventually, Moses dies at another river’s edge. Another leader finishes the journey.
Moses' Ikigai was a lifelong process.
So is yours.
Look for PatternsThe more you reflect, the more you’ll start to notice divine fingerprints all over your life.
Truth #2: Listen to Your LifeWhat brings you joy? Not just happiness — but real, lasting joy?
Where do you feel:
“You can’t do that for a real job.”
“Art is a waste of time.”
“There’s no degree in helping people.”
But God put that desire in you.
It’s not dumb. It’s you.
“A man’s gift makes room for him, but not every gift is given for gain.”
— Proverbs 18:16
Or, as Nirvana put it in 1993:
“I think I’m dumb. Maybe just happy.”
Maybe what people call “dumb” is actually your Ikigai.
Truth #3: Your Ikigai Might Make Money — Or NotI once started a YouTube sailing channel. I was proud of it — edited episodes, cool music, real adventures.
Then I showed it to my mates.
And I realized… they didn’t care.
Like, not at all.
Except my mum. (Thanks, Mum.)
And that was okay. I kept doing it for years — because some things are just for you.
What Brings You Joy?
It opens you to the fullness of life.
It gets you up in the morning.
It’s your Ikigai.
I used to sell paintings for $10,000 each.
Loved painting — until it became a job.
Then I hated it.
Same with pastoring. I once led a huge church with multiple services and programs. It was successful… and I hated it.
Now? I love pastoring. Because it’s no longer my job. It’s my Ikigai.
I just spent months in South America. And the whole time, I was thinking about you — this church, this community, this season in Wanaka.
Final ThoughtDon’t fall into the trap of thinking:
“This brings me joy — I should make it my job.”
Sometimes, that works.
But often it doesn’t — financially or emotionally.
And that’s okay.
Because your Ikigai might not be about success.
It might just be about becoming the you that God created.
Coming Next Week:"What Makes You Angry?"
We'll look at how your holy discontent — the things that break your heart — might just be another clue to your calling.
Bring a friend. It’s gonna be good.
If you found this message helpful, or want to explore Ikigai further, come visit us in person at Lighthouse Church in Wanaka or check out more messages on our site.
Let me know if you’d like this formatted into a blog post, PDF, or paired with images for your website/social media.
Let’s start with a quote:
“You may be talented, but you’re not Karnyay West.”
— Karnyay West
A little narcissistic? Maybe. But he’s got a point. None of us are Kanye.
You are you — with your own set of talents, giftings, history, and potential future.
You’re completely unique. And deep down, you know that.
Why? Because God put that in you.
You were made for a reason. And when you discover that, life begins to feel integrated. That’s actually where the word integrity comes from — being whole, being aligned.
When you step into your uniqueness, you become integrated. Integrous. You become you.
The First Time I Felt Like MeI was about 21. I’d just started following God and was helping set up “Snowboarders for Christ” with a bunch of riders. We had a camp planned at Ōhau, and someone asked me to share something for 5 minutes during the worship set.
I was terrified. It was probably the worst message I’ve ever given.
But there was something about it.
The creativity. The storytelling. The teaching. The humor.
It stirred something deep inside me.
Afterward, I remember thinking,
This... this is something I want to get up in the morning for.
The Japanese Have a Word for ThatIkigai.
It means: What gets you up in the morning?
It’s that feeling that today actually matters.
In English, we’ve used words like:
- Purpose
- Destiny
- Calling
- Vocation
A Biblical Example: AbrahamGenesis 17:5 tells the story of a 99-year-old man named Abram. His wife, Sarah, is 89. God meets him and says:
“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham,
for I have made you a father of many nations.”
(Genesis 17:5)
Now — fun fact:
- Abram means "father"
- Abraham means "father of a multitude"
Abraham’s probably thinking,
“Uhh... God, I’m 99. Viagra’s not helping. Sarah’s 89. Are we really doing this?”
Spoiler alert: They do have kids. And those kids become the beginning of the Jewish nation.
But the real point?
God sees your potential — not just who you are now.
God speaks in past tense:
“I have made you the father of many nations.”
Before Abraham saw any of it.
God lives outside of time.
He sees who He created you to be — and He’s calling you toward it.
It’s already in you.
You might not see it yet.
But you feel it.
Let’s Talk About SeasonsAt Lighthouse, we believe we’re in a unique season.
Jaz keeps a 4-year diary, where she records what we do every day. So we can look back and see patterns.
On the same date across four different years:
- We launched Lighthouse Church in Wanaka.
- We finished pastoring a church in Oamaru.
- We finished helping at a church in Waihi Beach.
But we believe it’s a season. A calling. Our Ikigai is deeply connected to Wanaka.
Truth #1: Your Ikigai Is a Work in ProgressYou’re never done figuring it out.
It evolves with:
- What you say yes to
- What you say no to
- Your relationships, plans, family, and challenges
Moses’ StoryMoses is born a Jew during a genocide. His mum hides him in the river. Pharaoh’s daughter finds him and adopts him.
(Quick note: water is a repeating theme in Moses’ life. Water often symbolizes God's presence.)
He grows up in Egyptian royalty, but he’s torn between two worlds. One day, he kills an Egyptian for beating a Jewish slave. Then he runs into the wilderness.
At a well (yep, water again), he meets a woman, helps her water her sheep… and ends up marrying her.
He becomes a shepherd for 40 years. Far from power, influence, or his old life.
And then God calls him to go back and lead the Jews to freedom.
What happens?
More water.
He parts the Red Sea.
Later, God leads them with fire and cloud. Eventually, Moses dies at another river’s edge. Another leader finishes the journey.
Moses' Ikigai was a lifelong process.
So is yours.
Look for PatternsThe more you reflect, the more you’ll start to notice divine fingerprints all over your life.
Truth #2: Listen to Your LifeWhat brings you joy? Not just happiness — but real, lasting joy?
Where do you feel:
- Most alive?
- Most yourself?
- Most courageous?
“You can’t do that for a real job.”
“Art is a waste of time.”
“There’s no degree in helping people.”
But God put that desire in you.
It’s not dumb. It’s you.
“A man’s gift makes room for him, but not every gift is given for gain.”
— Proverbs 18:16
Or, as Nirvana put it in 1993:
“I think I’m dumb. Maybe just happy.”
Maybe what people call “dumb” is actually your Ikigai.
Truth #3: Your Ikigai Might Make Money — Or NotI once started a YouTube sailing channel. I was proud of it — edited episodes, cool music, real adventures.
Then I showed it to my mates.
And I realized… they didn’t care.
Like, not at all.
Except my mum. (Thanks, Mum.)
And that was okay. I kept doing it for years — because some things are just for you.
What Brings You Joy?
- Snowboarding
- Surfing
- That hiking trail
- That painting
- That delicious meal you love cooking
- That song you write
- That random label-organising habit (Jaz, looking at you)
It opens you to the fullness of life.
It gets you up in the morning.
It’s your Ikigai.
I used to sell paintings for $10,000 each.
Loved painting — until it became a job.
Then I hated it.
Same with pastoring. I once led a huge church with multiple services and programs. It was successful… and I hated it.
Now? I love pastoring. Because it’s no longer my job. It’s my Ikigai.
I just spent months in South America. And the whole time, I was thinking about you — this church, this community, this season in Wanaka.
Final ThoughtDon’t fall into the trap of thinking:
“This brings me joy — I should make it my job.”
Sometimes, that works.
But often it doesn’t — financially or emotionally.
And that’s okay.
Because your Ikigai might not be about success.
It might just be about becoming the you that God created.
Coming Next Week:"What Makes You Angry?"
We'll look at how your holy discontent — the things that break your heart — might just be another clue to your calling.
Bring a friend. It’s gonna be good.
If you found this message helpful, or want to explore Ikigai further, come visit us in person at Lighthouse Church in Wanaka or check out more messages on our site.
Let me know if you’d like this formatted into a blog post, PDF, or paired with images for your website/social media.