Life goes on in the blink of an eye. Our time here on earth is but a small phenomenon. I will forewarn you that there is a religious theme to this post, but whatever you believe in, whoever you worship, I think it all comes back to the same point, the same beginning. I believe there is a God, a beautiful and omniscient being, who wanted me to be born, and He has a particular reason for my time on this earth.
My husband and I were sitting in the living room one evening after work. We were getting ready for a workout and preparing for a long holiday weekend, and he tells me something along the lines of "can you believe how short our lifespan is?" We ebbed and flowed between different topics, thinking about our parents who have 20+ years left before they are 80 and 90 years old, which means he and I will be about 60! I mean, honestly, that is not that far away. With how fast we flip between the calendar months, I feel like my watch is set on fast forward. And one thought jolts through my head, like a strike of lightning from above…I’m not ready to go yet.
Purpose. This one-word echoes through my mind and sets a steady beat to the rhythm of my heart. It is a question and a statement. Purpose...what is my goal? We are all desperate to know the sole reason we were placed on this earth—what footprint and the legacy we will leave behind. Too many of us turn to the materials of this earth. Looking to have more money, a big house, a luxury car, etc. But is that really your purpose? I’ll put my foot down, I’ll raise my hands towards the sky and shout it out loud…of course not! These things will not be coming with us when we depart from this life. What will go with us, though, are the good deeds and the evil deeds we fulfilled on this earth.
Have you been to a bookstore lately, and Amazon counts! New books pop up left and right claiming "do these 5 steps, and you will find your purpose" or financial books showcasing how to make a million. But nothing in life is that easy, life is not defined in 5 easy steps. Yes, there are stepping-stones, foundations, or rules of experience you can live by that others have determined for you, but those are their rules. Those people can help set a precedent for you to follow, but only you can know your worth, your values, and your own standards by living your life. By choosing to work hard, save, and put in the time when things get hard.
But then, what is all that really about? What if you work so hard, working towards a future you think you are supposed to have, and then BOOM, your life is over, and you never got to enjoy it. Did you even enjoy the process, or were you so stressed out that you lived and scraped day after day? Did you take the time to be with your family and kiddos? How will those people remember you? A man or woman who was married to their job? A person who chose to put material gain over love, compassion, and kindness? Remember, those are the gifts you leave behind long after you are gone.
Perseverance, drive, tenacity, and single-mindedness are all synonyms for purpose. You can't get anywhere in this life if you don't embody some of those traits. However, there must be a middle ground. An area of life where you can let go and just be yourself, where you can relax, reflect on and enjoy the process, and at times, stop taking yourself so seriously.
We are told from the beginning that all life is precious. We all know that on the surface and preach that day in and day out. But do we hold that truth to be self-evident? Do we feel that preciousness of life deep in our soul? Do we fight for what's right, do we live to serve others?
For me, that is the ultimate purpose of serving others. I know I will not always physically hear the plan God has laid out for me, but that doesn't mean He isn't trying to show me. The choices I make in my life, both good and bad, put me on a path to find my purpose. What makes it all worth it, in this precious life, is choosing to do what is right, even when it is hard. Once you come to terms with that, you will be more present in this life.
At times you must take life seriously, choices have to be made, and decisions that require action must be fulfilled. But life is about the process, not the outcome. We should all have one result in mind, though, one destination set above all else, and that is a home with our heavenly Father. That is the ultimate outcome. The process of this life is to gain that prize.
You have this one life to live, so live it well. Be a friend. Show kindness and compassion to those who need it most. Be a light in this world. Enjoy the process, and try not to take life and yourself so seriously. This is a skill that won’t come easy, and some days will be better than others. But live in the moment, choose to be present. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, your choices will unveil your purpose. Keep your eyes open and your heart honest. Be open to receiving the gifts this life has to offer, and your life's purpose might just find you.
Jerimiah 29:11
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