hat is your mission in life?  What is your purpose?  There are very few people that haven't asked that question in one way or another.  "Why am I here?"

A select few seemed destined from the moment they are born to pursue, and excel, at a particular vocation.  These people may be cooks, parents, preachers, caretakers, writers, lovers, salesman, or any other of an infinite number of roles. 

Whatever their role, they understand early in life that they have a place in the master plan.  They understand that they have a purpose.  Still, this is only a select few.  The majority of us struggle with the question.

Quite often adolescents ask that question at around age 12-14.  This is sometimes viewed in quiet abject horror by the parents as their children push the limits and boundaries that they've known for so long.  Adolescence is a difficult time for the adolescent, but the parents suffer too.

Consider a father and daughter who have developed strong ties with each other.  From her point of view, they share everything.  He's interested in her school projects and everything about her daily life.  He reads to her or listens when she reads to him,  they fly kites, or skate, or ride bikes, or jog, or any of a number of activities. 

They share. 

From her perspective, she is always considered "daddy's girl."  Until adolescence.

At adolescence, a self-awareness kicks in and she realizes she is, can be, and needs to be, something more than just "daddy's girl."  She pushes him away.  She tries to be different.  And in that difference, she hopes to identify her self-identity and ultimately her purpose.

Although the adolescents survive, and usually emerge with an answer of "Who am I?" they rarely emerge from the struggle with an answer to life's question of "Why am I here?" 

That is a question that usually must be pursued later.

But just as the adolescent realizes she is much more than just daddy's girl, most of us realize that we are much more than just the bodies we occupy. 

Dr. Deepak Chopra relates that on the average of every seven years, every cell in our body is replaced or renewed.  Our body is different today than it was seven years ago.  However, the elusive soul, our essence of being, remains.

Thoughts come into our heads, but we choose whether to dwell on them or push them away.  Memories are stored in the massive storage of the brain and sometimes come flooding in, uninvited.  Again, we choose whether to live in these memories or push them away and prod others to come.  We choose whether or not we want to grow, to learn, to love. 

God wouldn't have it any other way.

I can't say for sure what each of our mission's are, but I do believe that these are the key.  Growing.  Learning.  Loving.  And ultimately, serving others.

Are you on the path?  Ask yourself these questions.
    Am I growing? 
    Am I learning? 
    Am I loving? 
    Am I serving others?

The answers must come from within.

                                                Darril R. Gibson