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Today I am interviewing a woman whose life took a dramatic turn after she turned 50. That’s when she stopped being a minister and took her ministry into the marketplace.
Gwen Rutz had been a pastor in Oklahoma for more than 13 years. It was an experience that really stretched her to embrace what God called her to do, but also to go beyond her comfort zone to try something new.
She applied those same lessons a few years ago when she felt God calling her to use her ministry skills to start an archery business at her home.
Gwen and her husband, Troy, set up a 3-D archery range in a wooded area next to their home. They also started a bow repair business, and teach people the skill of archery.
Once Native Arrow Archery was established, it opened the door for Gwen to invite youth groups to the range, and to teach courses in the community, especially for the Upward Bound program. She also participates in the National Archery in Schools program.
When teaching, Gwen correlates Biblical messages with whatever skill she’s trying to convey, like standing firm, and how sin works to separate people from God.
Teaching classes and working with youth groups allows Gwen to use her ministry skills to mentor others in a way that changed her life as much as it changes theirs.
Changing careers invigorated her by instilling a renewed sense of purpose in her life. The more Gwen involved herself with that new purpose, the more passionate she became. That’s usually what happens when people step out, in faith, to do what they feel called in their hearts to do.
Gwen said God never calls us to do things for which we are not uniquely equipped to do. Nor does he tell us to do something for which we will not have a passionate desire to carry out.
Pursuing the business was so impactful on her life that Gwen started a YouTube channel to share her advice and experiences with others. The channel is called Simplify Your Life With Gwen Rutz.
Not only does she talk about the purpose of going in new directions, she also talks about how seasoned citizens have so much to offer to their communities and people around them.
Lately, Gwen has started helping people declutter all the junk that has accumulated in their lives and homes. She encourages older people to go through their stuff to identify and retain only what is meaningful to their lives, and explain why that connection exists.
After going through boxes, shelves and totes, people are often left with only those items which help tell the story about who they are and how it shaped them. Those belongings have far more value to heirs than a collection of elementary school projects.
The whole process of doing what Gwen calls a “Swedish death clean,” is liberating for seasoned citizens because it reduces clutter in their lives. But, they’re also doing their families a favor by not leaving them with the burden of disposing of things that may or may not have meaning to their lives as well.
Gwen offered advice to people who may be struggling with purpose. She recommends removing noise and listening to what their heart is telling them to do, then walking that out. The heart often speaks of its true desire, but people keep pushing in away. If they embrace that desire, then happiness, joy and purpose returns to their lives.
People can connect with Gwen on LinkedIn and Facebook as well as through her YouTube channel at Simplify Your Life With Gwen. Her business website can be found at www.nativearrowarchery.com.
That’s all I have for this week’s show. If you’d like help in identifying a purpose for your life or to get help planning your next steps, I’m offering a complimentary brainstorming session to members of the Forward From 50 Facebook community. For details, connect with me on Facebook or visit www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.