Words Straight from a Friend

One of my friends just returned from Kenya, after being on the same life changing trip I was a part of last January. I was creeping through his amazing pictures he took and had posted on Facebook, when I came across something he had just posted. His words really hit me, and I thought that they related so well to the trip I just returned from that I thought I would share. He couldn't have put it any better. Enjoy :)

"In each an every one of our lives, there is a moment when all of our priorities and concerns are shifted. We are exposed to a new way of living and a new way of thinking. And as we sense a great difference between what is and what should be — our identity begins to change. It’s a nagging feeling inside our souls that something has been wrong with the way we’d been living — and in this moment — the feeling is no longer bearable. You no longer “fit” into your old world. Your horizons have been broadened and you’ve seen & heard too many things — to go back to your ordinary way of living. The way you feel during that special moment of waking up to your true identity is priceless. It’s unexplainable — all you know is that you suddenly see things differently and things are not the same anymore. This new self awareness you have doesn’t just come pop up into thin air though — its something you have to stumble upon. For most people, this moment usually happens when they see something terribly wrong in the world… and they want to come up with a solution for it. This is when life really begins to mean something. It’s when your place in the world makes more sense. You now have a purpose in life that’s much bigger than you. Things that used to matter, don’t anymore. Stuff that used to bother you, you could care less about. Your mediocre existence has now been hit with a touch from God — and you are heading towards your destiny. But it’s not all peaches and cream. It’s a tough unfamiliar road to drive down that’s full of real hardships and challenges. There is many defeats along the way, and many trials that don’t seem to make any sense or resolve right away. Yet, you still wouldn’t have it any other way. You would die if you had to go back to fitting into a world where you know you didn’t belong. A world that wouldn’t allow you to be yourself and left you feeling miserable, lonely, and unfulfilled. So you embrace that moment of change because it feels great to be walking down your path of purpose. These moments are different for all us, but if you live long enough — they will definitely happen. Whether you embrace this moment is solely up to you. I’ve seen many people have life altering moments happen to them and they simply swipe those moments under the rug and ignore it’s significance. Therefore, they continue living an unfulfilled life and never wake up to their true identity. And I definitely don’t want that to be you. We all want to live more meaningful lives. That’s the reason we are constantly in search of something. A better job — a new car — a soul mate, etc. But none of those things fulfill you on the inside so you end up always searching for more. We each were born to play a role — but just because it’s your life doesn’t mean you were meant to be the star in it. I know you probably thinking “How can I not have the starring role in my own movie?” But hear me out… What if there was more to the meaning of life than your own story, but rather an overarching narrative in which you had a crucial part to play? What if you had to give up your own selfish dreams and sense of security to play your part in fulfilling your destiny? Would it be worth it? You don’t have to be rich & famous to live a happy, fulfilled life — you just have to live on purpose. That’s why it is so very important to be optimistic and embrace every moment of life because one of those moments will change your life. We all want to lead more meaningful lives, so that one day we can tell great stories to our grand kids. So that our children can be proud of their last name. So that we can have something valuable to say when God asks us what we did with this time we were given. So pay close attention to the events that occur in your life. Life changing moments are happening to people everyday by someone just like you & me. Which means you have the power to create a moment of change in someone elses life too! If everyone lived this way — the world would be a much better place! Unfortunately that is not the case and that is why I’m playing my role — helping as many people as I can wake up to their true identity so they can help others do the same. Remember, all it takes is one moment to change your life!"

I think we should all remember why God created us in the first place. To live in His image. Take these words and apply them. Pay attention to your life. Wake up. Play your role. Live God's plan He has created for you.

#middleeast