When talking about life some people like to compare it with the ocean. The analogy goes like this; when we are brought to this world, some are put in yachts, others are put in regular boats, some others are just thrown in the water with a life vest, and a couple of others weren’t even given a vest. A pretty straightforward way to describe life huh? As harsh as it sounds it is true! In fact, it gets even worse when we think about the fact that in that whole selection process, we didn’t have a saying. Your parent’s had you when they were still teenagers and not ready to have a baby, you were born in a third world economy, your family was never organized with their finances and now you are struggling, your parents rejected you, you get every material thing you want but you don’t feel loved at home, you were born with a disability, etc. I can’t help but ask myself the question why? Why do some seem to have it easier than others? If God knew we were going to have to struggle in these ways, why did he still choose to put us on earth? Wouldn’t it be easier just to choose the ones who wouldn’t have to struggle as much, and avoid putting others through so much pain? Just like me, I believe a big chunk of us humans ask the same valid questions, and the need to know the answers raises when it is us who are going through difficult situations. A couple of hours ago, before I got out of my friend’s car to get inside my house. My friend and I were having a conversation about life, dreams, and decisions. You know I am passionate about following those gems that God has placed on our hearts, so I was super engaged in the conversation and was trying to give him some advice, but it wasn’t until I got in my bedroom that a piece of reality hit me. What if when we were thrown in the ocean we were placed in those different positions for a reason and purpose? To explain what I am trying to say let’s do an exercise. For a second, I want you to think about your favorite brand of cars. Got it? Ok, now I want you to pick your favorite car from this brand, and then I want you to picture yourself in the assembly process. (Take your time and when you are ready come back to keep reading)
The process starts and you see how a bunch of pieces are being put together, slowly but surely this car that you like is becoming a reality! Not only do you see how your car is being assembled, but you get to see how the other models are also being assembled. After some welding here and there, you hear the screw guns tightening the doors and wheels, and a couple of hours later you got your car ready to be used! They hand your car’s key and now you proceed to check it before you bring it home. You get in the car and acknowledge how they put in the sound system you wanted, the color and material you wanted for your seats are also there, and basically, everything that you were expecting in the interior is there. Then, you check the outside and notice they put the type of wheels that perfectly fit the roads where you want to drive your car in, it has an engine that will either help you pull things or go at high speeds, and pretty much everything you expected on the outside of your car is also there. Your car is perfect! and now you are ready to take it home. As you are leaving the assembly place you notice that a couple of other people are also receiving their cars and are as happy as you were a couple of minutes ago. Their car is not the same as yours but for them is perfect and will serve the purpose for which it was created.
What would happen if these cars had life just like we do? I imagine more than half of the cars wouldn’t even make it past the first steps of the assembly process, they would look at the other cars that are further in the process and would get discouraged because they don’t look like that Range Rover or that jeep that is almost finished. Others wouldn’t be able to stand the pain they have to go through to reach the final goal, and then their reasoning would kick in and remind them that some cars that were being assembled got to the end line way faster and without even experiencing a quarter of the pain that they are having to experience, they would figure it is not fair so they quit halfway. But finally, a few cars would stick to the whole process and get to the final lane. The question would be, why did some cars make it to the end of the assembly process while others didn’t?
This analogy doesn’t separate so much from real life. We are all put in this world to reach a purpose, and I believe the compass to reach that purpose is the abilities and dreams that were placed in us. Only you know what are the things that you want and the things you do that nobody does like you. But reaching that purpose takes more than just a compass, you need to get your feet moving toward where the compass is pointing you! because no matter how much the farmer wants to have a good harvest unless he wakes up every day to sow and take care of his crop, the harvest will never come. It is true that we are thrown in the middle of the ocean, some in better conditions than others! But what if we stopped looking at someone else’s conditions and embraced the ones we are facing? Each person has a different destiny or if we want to use the analogy of the ocean, each person has a “different island” they are supposed to get to. However, just because you were thrown in a yacht doesn’t mean you will reach your island, and just because you were thrown into the ocean with no life vest doesn’t mean you can’t reach your island. It is a matter of decision! I am not here to tell you that what happened to you was not terrible. In fact, there are many things that break my heart when I hear people’s stories! Your parents rejecting you is something that I wish nobody had to go through, getting everything, you ask for but your parents don’t bond with you or make you feel loved sucks, Having to struggle for food is terrible, and “having it all” according to the world but feeling lonely is very sad. I hear you! and I don’t want you to think that at any point I am diminishing the pain and the situations you’ve had to go through. What I want to tell you is that these situations you face may be the vehicle to take you to where you are meant to be. I want you to stop comparing yourself to others. Just because it seems like they are on a yacht doesn’t mean they don’t struggle! Everybody must deal with the struggles that will boost them towards that island that’s waiting for them. Keep in mind that you are not meant to arrive on any different island other than yours! but when you start comparing yourself to others you change the course of your compass, leading you to end up on someone else’s island as an extra when you had an entire island waiting for you to be the main character. I want you to stop refusing to embrace your situation and instead allow it to make you stronger, because I am telling you that you might be cursing the very thing that is meant to take you to a different level. You are not a victim! you are a person who God needed here on earth, and he knew that if you approached every obstacle that life would throw at you with the right attitude you would make a huge difference! You can’t see it right now, but I promise you that the place that God has prepared for you is worth every piece of struggle that he has allowed to come your way. His word says that we should not fear because he will help us, uphold us, and strengthen us. (Isaiah 41:10) He knows that your situation is tough, but he is promising you that if you keep going, that if you don’t fear, but especially if you decide to believe in his plan, not only he will help you overcome your situation, but he will make you stronger!
I believe that if we were to ask the cars that made it to the end of the assembly process, what separates them from the ones that didn’t make it? Their answer would be divided into three key points.
- They believed they were created for a purpose: Our minds are the most fertile garden that’s ever existed, so whatever thoughts we plant up there, will reflect on who we become. It is as simple! If you don’t believe there is a purpose for your life your life will pass without ever being able to experience what God made you capable of. (Read Jeremiah 32:19)
- They kept their eyes on their own finish line: One of the things that rob us of living meaningfully is comparison. We tend to look at our neighbor’s grass and forget to take care of our own! We try to be like them without realizing that by stewarding what has been given to us we would be able to enjoy what God had prepared for us. (1 Corinthians 12:11)
- They believed there was something bigger than themselves: Finally, I know that through the whole process, these cars weren’t thinking just about themselves. When they were going through pain, they had to remember that somewhere out there was a family, a daughter, a son, or a couple that was waiting for them. Waiting for them to serve, serve as the vehicle that would take that anxious husband and that strong future mom to the hospital so they could have their first baby, serve as the vehicle that would take that entire family on road trips full of joy, songs, and laughs, serve as the place where a future husband and wife had their first kiss, and also serve to that father that would have to go looking for his son in a late night after an argument that didn’t turn so well. So, I encourage you to remember that what you go through is not for you but for others! Giving meaning to your life is great but when your life gives meaning to someone else’s that is the real deal. Remember that if you choose to keep going, one day someone will hear your story, and your story will inspire them to live empowered. (Read Matthew 5:16)
Once again, I want to encourage you to either start or continue a relationship with God, your life will not be perfect but I promise it is the key to living a meaningful life.