Blogging with Father John

Discovering the “Self”

All to often we look for purpose and meaning for our lives within ourselves. There are countless self-help books that attempt to assist us in discovering the “meaning of our lives.” Yet beginning with the “self” in order to find our purpose and meaning in life is looking in the wrong place. One may ask, “What?! Well just where am I supposed to begin? After all, isn’t it my life I’m trying to enhance and further explore?” The answer to these questions is “yes,” it is our life that we seek to find a deeper purpose and more profound meaning, but the source in which we begin is not within ourselves, but with God.

Our lives begin with Christ and our lives as Christians are centered in Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us, “He is the image of the unseen God, the first born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and invisible, thrones, ruling forces, sovereignties, powers- all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16).  In other words, rather than looking to our inner most selves for our purpose in life, we are called to look to Christ; Christ who is begotten (meaning there before all time) and Christ who knew us before we were even formed in the womb. This is revelation (God speaking to us) rather than self-formation (speaking to ourselves!).

In order for us to truly find and better understand our purpose in life we must begin with Christ. For it is by him and with him and in him that our lives take on new meaning and transformation. The “self” becomes less important as we listen, pray and seek God’s will for our lives. We suddenly find newness in life that comes from the Holy Spirit.

So turn to God as we walk this journey called life, and we will discover not only our spiritual gifts but our genuine purpose in life as well.