“There are two great days in a person's life -- the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay
Now that you are reading this, which means you are alive, do you know why you were born? Does that question seem obvious to you? If it does, am glad you know. Am glad you won't look back to your life and wonder "What was it all for?"
"So I got the titles, the recognition, the admiration, even have my own fans, a picturesque family - what was it all for? Why did I give my all to nothing but titles and recognition. All my time was spent on making my family comfortable, I didn't want the poverty I grew up in to affect my family. I have all the wealth, you can imagine, all you would ever desire I have. I'd rather die than live another day, I don't know the reason for my existence."
Excerpt adapted from a true story.
The story above just depicts the outcome of not knowing the purpose for one's existence and living to fulfill the purpose. True happiness is never derived from the things that we acquire in our lives.
Most people in the world are walking skeletons, being carried by the wind to whichever direction it blows. If its to the East, let's go, you seem to say. Oh now it's to the West, hurray, at least that is a change. Now it's beginning to get fun. Along the way to the West, even before you've got there, the wind blows again and this time, the North is your destination. Before you even set camp at the North, the East is beckoning again. Wait a minute, you pause, with all the strength you can gather, don't I have a say in all this. However, the more you struggle, the more you lose to the wind, whether you like it or not, the East is the place you will go back to - the wind bellows back. The case of a dog returning to it's own vomit. Remember, the East was not really where you wanted to be in the first place, you just found yourself there, for lack of a better explanation.
Are you a walking skeleton? Do you have a say to where the wind, a metaphor for you're job, family, economy, friends etc. takes you? Are you in charge of your destiny or is your destiny is in charge of you?
“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”
William Jennings Bryan
So now we know, destiny is not by luck, you have to pursue it intentionally. What is your destiny? Do you have the slightest idea?
Synonyms of purpose: aim, ambition, aspiration, design, dream, end, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, meaning, object, objective, plan, point, goal, target
Why were you born? This is the question we will attempt to answer, everyone on his/ her own. We will answer it by looking at the pitfalls we encounter along the way of discovery.
There is NO reason.
Some of us think there is simply no reason for our existence. That by mere luck your father and mother conceived you into the world and you've been walking the earth since then. That someday, you will die just like the rest of humanity.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Let me shock you today, if you subscribe to this school of thought. There is a reason, there is a purpose, the Manufacturer of life had a goal, whether you choose to believe it or not.
In a factory, there is usually so much activity, but the aim is to manufacture as many products as possible. With the use of machines, the work has definitely been reduced. Manufacture requires skill, hard work, patience and persistence. Every product that is manufactured has a form and shape, both of which have to be molded to specific pre-determined requirements; and once these are attained then the finished products are shipped to their destination for consumption.
Let's assume that you enter a supermarket, do you find that most times than not, you have a specific product in mind. Maybe, you were thirsty and just needed a cold drink. There are many drinks on the shelves but you choose just one, if you chose water, there are many different water companies, you still chose one manufacturer's product. Have you ever stopped to think why?
Now let's assume there is a supermarket of life, and you are one of the products 'on sale'. Why should a 'buyer' come and pick you out of all the other similar products on the shelves? Is there a possibility that no one even looked at you're aisle in such a long time, that the dust is overwhelming. Did the manufacturer make a mistake? Are you the first of the losses the company has had to incur? What are you worth? Did he put such a high price on you that no one is willing to pay the price?
All these questions and more linger in our minds? Most times, our questions are valid. The main question still stands : Do I have a purpose? What is my purpose?
The answer to these questions is as simple as the answer to the question below:
A woman had two sons who were born on the same hour of the same day of the same year. And they were not twins. How is this even possible?
I am not like so-and-so.
We live in a competitive world. You compete with your siblings, you compete with your friends, you compete in education, you compete in the workplace, even after you are married, you compete with your spouse ---we all know competition has not had good results, most of the time.
With your siblings, you've been hurt physically or emotionally or possibly the other way round, as a result your parents gave you thorough beatings or at the very least some scorning. With your friends, some you had to lose along the way. In education, the results may never have reflected the hard work you put in, possibly because some had the answers even before the questions had arrived. In marriage, it's always about who has the last word, and none of you has ever given in to the pressure. At the workplace, who will get that one post, you have to get it - no choice you say, but to compete.
A mistake we always make is to think we don't have a choice.
Whether to compete or not is a choice, and you've already made it even before you enter the ring!
It is all about comparisons: looks, IQ, money, bodily strength e.t.c? The underlying statement in all this competition is: I am better than so-and-so.
Have you ever thought on a light note, why do you compete with people and not other things - compete with your dog on who has the sharpest teeth; compete with a cheetah, just to know if you are faster; while you are at it please compete with that cake, let's see who is the sweetest of them all. I'd not take these challenges, but please do them. Prove that you are worth it.
We always think we have something to prove, why do we then compete? Let's consider a fight of words. Someone at your workplace, just called you a loser! No reason for the outburst of words. What do you do? How do you react?
Life is like a game of chess, every step determines your fate, which (your fate) will be known at the end of the game, and not the beginning.
I wonder if any factory would make two different products that would compete for the same market. Wouldn't that be a self-defeating process?
Comparisons and competition are as a result of not knowing purpose. I'll dare say, don't compete with anyone but yourself, don't intimidate anyone, don't be intimidated by anyone, you have nothing to prove to anyone, other than yourself!
I'd love to hear your insights, is there more to life?
1 John 3:8 ... The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work.
