Live with purpose
Who am I and why am I here? Those are the two most important questions to ask yourself.
Question 1: Who am I?
Some say that you are the product of some silt that came out of some prehistoric swamp and evolved from this to that, then to something else until one day, some fifty million years later, “YOU” appeared. That is the good news. The bad news is that after fifty million years of evolution, you’re only allowed a grueling seven or eight decades until someone returns you to the swamp you supposedly came from. What a great deal!
Others are of the opinion that you are the reincarnation of some poor wretch who fought in the Peloponnesian wars or served in the courts of King Arthur only to die and then return in the 21st century as “YOU”. It sounds depressing to me because it means that after your death you could appear again on this little planet as a cow, a crow, or the great-great-grandson of some robber baron in Pakistan.
Then there are those who think that you did not come from nowhere and are returning to the same place you came from. They think you are a winner or a loser in life’s unpredictable, heartless and unregulated lotteries and you have no particular control over what happens. And when it’s all over, well, it’s all over, so it doesn’t matter much what you do in the meantime. Do what you want.
Who you are, I think, is much more than any of these or other bland and uninspiring answers to Question 1. It makes more sense to me that you and I are exactly what we appear to be: intricately designed individuals specially created with the stamp of eternity in our souls and a longing for God in our hearts. That is a scenario that calls us to be better than ever and to become as valuable and useful citizens as possible.
Question 2: Why am I here?
You are here, not to collect dust or take up space. You are here, not to collect things or amass wealth. You are here to do something worthwhile, to bring light to a dark corner, to lift up a fallen man, to encourage a discouraged soul, to heal a wound, correct a wrong, fix what is broken or wash what is dirty.
You and I are here for a purpose. We’re here to do more than the mind-numbing, mindless, repetitive activities that are often imposed on us by our parents, peers, or employers. So, for the love of God, don’t just stand there, do something worthwhile! Fulfill your personal mission.
The first step in getting out of the mud is realizing who you are, a special creation of Almighty God, and then discovering the important purpose for which you were born.
Don’t be afraid of these two big questions. Find answers, claim your inheritance, declare your usefulness, and you’ll be out of the mud in no time!
For more information on finding your purpose in life, I recommend “Life with Purpose: What the Heck Am I Here for?” by Rick Warren.
By Dr. Ron Ross
