Who Am I and Why Am I Here?
The first and ultimate question in Philosophy 101 and at the end of the Ph.D.
The question men have pondered since the beginning.
Turns out there are two kinds of people. One that noodles on this kind of question, and another who says “Hand me another beer!” and moves on.
Down deep in all of us, there’s this curiosity. If the world didn’t ‘just happen”….if it wasn’t ‘from goo to you via the zoo’….if the ‘big bang’ started with a ‘big banger’, then why? Why would God create this unique species called ‘man’ and make him so different from all the others? Why is my ability to reason, create, fly and build so far beyond any other living thing?
More specifically…why would God create me?
I don’t have the intellect or energy to think about the ‘big picture’ stuff very long. When people move into “where did God come from?”, I go where ignorance meets apathy…where “I don’t know” meets “I don’t care.” I know God is real. That He saved me from a life of selfishness and destructive behavior. I know He’s there with me and for me every day. I’m more like the man born blind than Aristotle. “He replied, whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
But if God loves me and I want to love Him back, what do I do if I’m supposed to “Glorify Him”? If he invented work before the fall, then what kind of work should I do? Do I float around singing hymns all day? Do I become a monk and meditate for hours and days on end? Do I have to quit my job and become a minister or preacher?
Well that’s not me. I want to be “all in, all the time,” but I’m not a preacher. I’m not a monk. And I don’t sing so good.
But if I am unique, if I’m “fearfully and wonderfully made,” if God is my Perfect Father, then there’s a unique role for me to play. A unique purpose for me in this world. “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1).
Finding life purpose is too big a topic to unpack in a blog post…even a series of posts. So we’ve put together a short 20-page ebook to help you if you decide to try and figure out your unique purpose. You can download it by clicking this link…..
Caveat: There’s no “magic bullet” here. But there is a path to travel, in collaboration with your Heavenly Father, that might just help you get a ‘bead’ on your purpose. It’s hard work and it’ll require lots of starts and restarts, but I believe it’s worth it.
Question: Do you know why you were created and brought to this point in your life? What would God have you do with what He’s given you? Tell us here.
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Responses (1)
Thanks for this Regi.
I loved: “God doesn’t need you to do anything. He invites you to find your purpose and join him in what He’s doing. But He will do what He’s going to do with or without you. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Leverage your purpose, but don’t let it
leverage you. Only He can do that.”
I’ve been enjoying your insight and perspective on intentional living and mentoring throughout your blog. I’m using many of your concepts (group, invitation, and challenge) to gather a group of eight fatherless boys ages 10-15 to mentor for a year. Thanks for the inspiration and challenge!