Apple Slices
Not long ago, I found myself asking, “Why?” Why am I chopping apples for a dehydrator at 10:30 p.m. when I want to go to bed? Why is this worth it? What is the meaning behind this? Surely my time is worth more than chopping some apples. We all have moments like this. The moments when we ask, “What am I doing with my life?” If you haven’t asked this yet, you likely will. We want our lives to count for something. I think that’s what draws us to the stories we consume. We love stories about heroes who overcome great adversity to leave an impact on the world around them. We want to see ourselves as these heroes, and when we pause and realize that we are not locked in an epic battle between good and evil, we start to question the purpose of what we do.
We need a why. What makes your job worth it? Is it just to make money? Is that enough purpose for you? Is it about power? Is it just so you can survive? How about so that you can feel important? If your life and work have become about any of these things, then I have a question for you. Are you satisfied? Is it enough? When will it be? My guess is that chasing after money, power, status, or anything else will leave you wanting more. Anything, that is, except living for the One who created you. As I sat chopping apples that night asking about my “why,” I was reminded of the reason I do what I do. It’s so that people will know that they are the Beloved. That who they truly are in their inner most being is a beloved son or daughter of the King. That’s why I chop apples. You see, those apples were for a backpacking trip that I was preparing for. The trip is one of the key components of the Guide program that I run at Camp Hebron. The trip, called Wilderness Leadership Intensive, is designed to explore Christian leadership and to prepare Guide students to lead backpacking trips of their own. I chop apples so that we have food for our trip because when we go on trips like this, we often have encounters with Christ. Encounters that can change our lives.
One of my many flaws is that I often slip into thinking life is about me. I want power and recognition. I know that this isn’t really my goal, but I just sometimes take my eyes off of the real treasure -- participating in the restoration processes that started when Christ died and rose from the grave, conquering death. My life is built on encounters with Christ, both for me and for others. I just sometimes forget that.
Maybe you are like me. Maybe sometimes you forget what your life goal is. Ask yourself what you are living for. If you are missing the mark, does something need to change? If so, what? It’s time to do something with purpose. Know that you are a beloved child of the King, and at the end of the day that is what matters. Lean into this truth and share it with others for that is what life is all about.
