I heard a story once about a young boy who found a moth cocoon and decided to bring it home and watch the moth emerge from the cocoon. Day after day the boy impatiently watched hoping to see a sign of the moth; but day after day he was met with disappointment. Finally, one day, the boy began to see the moth pushing through the cocoon. He watched as the moth managed to get only a tiny opening in the cocoon and through that tiny hole it pushed and fought its way out. The boy, feeling bad for the moth, couldn't stand it anymore and went over, grabbed a pair of scissors, and carefully snipped the opening so that it was bigger. As soon as he did that, out fell the moth. Finally, the moment had come when he would see the moth fly for the first time, so he waited for the moth to get its bearings...but nothing. The moth tried to flap its wings, but they didn't look right. So the boy left it alone figuring that it just needed to "grow" into its wings. But the next morning, the moth still didn't fly...and, little did the boy know, it never would. You see, the struggle of the moth to get out of the cocoon has purpose. In the course of the struggle to free itself, it forces blood to be pushed from its body and into the wings where the wings, within just a short time, will fold out and be ready for its first flight...but this moth didn't get that chance because, it the midst of his impatience to see the moth fly, he failed to see the purpose of the struggle.
Let's face it, we all long to understand purpose. Why am I here? Why is this happening? What is my life going to be about? What purpose do I have? If you're like me, you've asked this question. Sometimes it gets answered...sometimes, not so much.
I, personally, believe there is purpose to everything. Whether it be due to our actions, or lack of, there is a reason and a purpose to why things happen and why we do what we do.
Inevitably someone will ask "why do bad things happen to good people?" Two answers:
1. Either by their own doing they have gotten themselves in hot water and are paying for the consequences (haven't we all been there?) or...
2. By someone else's doing we suffer. In other words, the young teenage daughter that was killed in a drunk driving accident wasn't necessarily killed because she had done something bad...she was killed because some idiot decided to drink and then get behind the wheel of a 2 ton automobile even though it's against the law and just plain stupid. She died not because God wanted her to...she died because of the rotten behavior and (yes, let's call a spade a spade) the sin of another.
Whether by our own devices or something/someone else, things do have purpose. Life does have meaning. I believe, personally, our ultimate life's purpose is to please God. I can't imagine living life simply for myself -- there must be something or someone bigger to live for. For some, that may seem odd or ridiculous, but if that's not the case I have to ask -- is this all there is? Because life isn't just filled with the "good" of life -- we also have to deal with the "bad" of life. If I live my life with a purpose greater than myself, one day, I believe, I'll be somewhere where there will be no more bad and it will all be good! But if I live my life with a purpose that goes no further than my own nose, I'm still dealing with all the muck as much as the good -- what's the point there? I strive for something greater!
Purpose. Most will never come to terms with it. Some will believe it some of the time. No one will escape it. All of us will live with it...and have to deal with the results.
So...what's the purpose behind your life -- or more specifically your life's specific situation right now? Are you happy? Why do you think that is? Could it be so that it's not to simply relish in the greatness of life (although don't waste the opportunity to do that!) but to share your joy with others and perhaps help someone out who isn't happy right now? Are you suffering? Perhaps if you're willing to endure the pain for a short time that in the end you'll find yourself stronger in the end...and can help others who suffer in the same way? Are you in love? That, my friend, is a taste of heaven -- don't let your head get away from you and appreciate that love by nurturing it...and then pass the beauty of love along to others who simply fail to see it or know it.
We're not a bunch of pinballs randomly bouncing off one another...we're made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). We feel. We think. And, yeah, we have purpose...and so does life. I hope you find your purpose...in life...and in whatever situation you may be in right now.
Until next time, may you be lifted up!
Let's face it, we all long to understand purpose. Why am I here? Why is this happening? What is my life going to be about? What purpose do I have? If you're like me, you've asked this question. Sometimes it gets answered...sometimes, not so much.
I, personally, believe there is purpose to everything. Whether it be due to our actions, or lack of, there is a reason and a purpose to why things happen and why we do what we do.
Inevitably someone will ask "why do bad things happen to good people?" Two answers:
1. Either by their own doing they have gotten themselves in hot water and are paying for the consequences (haven't we all been there?) or...
2. By someone else's doing we suffer. In other words, the young teenage daughter that was killed in a drunk driving accident wasn't necessarily killed because she had done something bad...she was killed because some idiot decided to drink and then get behind the wheel of a 2 ton automobile even though it's against the law and just plain stupid. She died not because God wanted her to...she died because of the rotten behavior and (yes, let's call a spade a spade) the sin of another.
Whether by our own devices or something/someone else, things do have purpose. Life does have meaning. I believe, personally, our ultimate life's purpose is to please God. I can't imagine living life simply for myself -- there must be something or someone bigger to live for. For some, that may seem odd or ridiculous, but if that's not the case I have to ask -- is this all there is? Because life isn't just filled with the "good" of life -- we also have to deal with the "bad" of life. If I live my life with a purpose greater than myself, one day, I believe, I'll be somewhere where there will be no more bad and it will all be good! But if I live my life with a purpose that goes no further than my own nose, I'm still dealing with all the muck as much as the good -- what's the point there? I strive for something greater!
Purpose. Most will never come to terms with it. Some will believe it some of the time. No one will escape it. All of us will live with it...and have to deal with the results.
So...what's the purpose behind your life -- or more specifically your life's specific situation right now? Are you happy? Why do you think that is? Could it be so that it's not to simply relish in the greatness of life (although don't waste the opportunity to do that!) but to share your joy with others and perhaps help someone out who isn't happy right now? Are you suffering? Perhaps if you're willing to endure the pain for a short time that in the end you'll find yourself stronger in the end...and can help others who suffer in the same way? Are you in love? That, my friend, is a taste of heaven -- don't let your head get away from you and appreciate that love by nurturing it...and then pass the beauty of love along to others who simply fail to see it or know it.
We're not a bunch of pinballs randomly bouncing off one another...we're made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). We feel. We think. And, yeah, we have purpose...and so does life. I hope you find your purpose...in life...and in whatever situation you may be in right now.
Until next time, may you be lifted up!
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