RENEW YOUR ENTHUSIASM

            Not long ago, I ran into a childhood friend of mine in one of the multinational organizations in my country. She happened to be a staff of the organization. After exchanging some pleasantries and reflecting back on our childhood together, I asked her, “How is life on this job?” Thinking I was going to hear a satisfied employee tell me all the good things her ‘fat’ income has enabled her to do, I got a shocker when her mood suddenly changed to a sad one and she said to me, “I want to quit this job.” I quickly replied, “Are you out of your mind. Do you know how many people would do anything to have this job of yours and yet you want to leave it?” Then she quietly responded, “Up until now, I have merely been existing. I desire to really live and the only way I can do that is to do what people like you (referring to me) are doing - following the Creator’s plan for your life.” At that point, I understood clearly what she meant and I questioned her no further. 

           As I left her that day, I thought of the many gloomy faces that I see around daily – faces which are reflections of broken spirits. I thought of the many faces of people that I see going daily to jobs they never liked, I thought of the many faces of young undergraduates studying courses in school that they are not interested in, I thought of the many faces of married people that I see who wished they never met their spouses, I thought of the many faces of young graduates who blame everybody and everything for having no job. The more I think the more I see many shattered dreams, the more I think the more I see many people walking about with broken spirits. Then the words of my revered mentor, Dr. Myles Munroe, which says, “The greatest tragedy in life is not death; the greatest tragedy in life is to be alive and not know why” came to my heart. 

           My friend, you can avoid hopelessness and a broken spirit, you can live with renewed enthusiasm everyday. It begins when you discover your reason for existence. That reason for existence is what is referred to as purpose. It is when you discover your purpose that you really start to live. Life without purpose is mere existence; life without purpose is an experiment. Unfortunately, billions around the world today are experimenting with their lives.

          Your career is in your purpose, your spouse is in your purpose, your fulfillment is in your purpose, your future is in your purpose. When you discover your purpose and begin to live it out, your spirit will come alive. Our Creator didn’t put us on earth to find something to do, something to do necessitated our existence. Renew your enthusiasm; find the purpose for which the Creator placed you here.