Let’s start with a simple task. If I asked you to tell me about yourself, what would you say? Now, before you start thinking of an answer, lets place some ground rules. You can not use your name, your family, your education or even your hobbies. Now what would be your answer?
I’ve asked this question and it seems like people find it hard to talk about themselves without reaching straight for the typical identifiers (like name and age, which you had no voice in choosing) or simply regurgitating their usual routine. It’s easy to lose yourself and who you think you are amongst the daily routine of waking up, going to school, doing work, coming home and relaxing.
And since the whole idea of “purpose” and “calling” can become an awkward topic of conversation, a lot of us start to hide behind our daily routines, almost like an escape, so that we’d never have to search for anything greater. In the past, we’d typically associate this with people of old age.
Imagine the 21-year-old who finds themselves in a rut and asks, “Is this all there is to life”. See now they’ve got two options:
- They can say, “I’ve got to find myself. I’ve got to know why I’m here and what I’m supposed to do.” In reality, they may have no idea about who they are or how they are supposed to approach this, but they start looking for something, anything, to rejuvenate their life.
- Or, they can look around at their current situation and decide that there is no way out, and that it’d be pointless to try, so they continue in their ways. Suddenly they’re middle aged and look back, realising that there are more years behind them than ahead. This usually results in what many call a “Mid-life crisis”.
It really isn’t surprising though.
“Go to school, get a good education, and get a good job so you can live where you want, wear what you want, and buy what you want. Help your kids do the same, then retire in comfort and enjoy your golden years. That way, when you die, you’ll have something to leave behind.”
I mean isn’t that the life that so many of us were taught to aim for, and are striving to hard to attain?
Okay, we get it. But you’re what, 19? You can’t really tell me about life and the purpose of it.
Honestly. You’re probably right. This isn’t a self-help piece, where I break down the intricacies of life. I’m not gonna talk you through life, cause really, I haven’t lived much of mine, and I’m learning just like you.
So, where do we go from here?
I want to introduce you to a professional. You don’t want to hear about life from a 19-year-old who’s barely on his way to success. You want to hear from someone who’s made it. Someone who can speak from experience. Someone who was respected and had it all together.
Who?
Pastor Michael Todd.
Yes I’ve got an exclusive interv- nah I’m joking…
Maybe one day.
My Sunday Skl 