Whoever we may be, and wherever we may be, there will always be a time in our lives when we will naturally have an existential introspection. One of the frequently asked questions, and often comes to the fore the most is, “Why am I here”. Once this question pops up, it would lead to many subsequent questions. Of course, living in a career-driven world, it is easy to confuse our careers with our purpose. However, the fact of the matter is that the moment we choose to take a certain profession, it does not necessarily mean it is our purpose. This is because knowing one’s purpose is not as easy as whistling. It requires a lot of inner work. It may also require some great time of solitude, or maybe even days of fasting for one to get mental clarity and get in the spirit (inspired). The challenge is that today’s way of living barely creates room for practices that can lead one to hopefully find their purpose. But why worry about purpose? one may ask. Why not just live like every other animal does what you got to do, and live your life? Such questions are good and transformational. They are like a match-stick to the forest of thoughts. Once anyone has reached that level of question, be it by intention or accident, it shows that there are some levels of dissatisfaction. Their body may be fine, but their soul may be crying out for help. It longs for something satisfying and meaningful. Now, humanly and rightly so, when thinking of a meaningful life, it is easy to fall into the trap of satisfying our insatiable desires. Everything we would think of as meaningful and purposeful would always be tied to meeting some deep sub-conscious desires. It would always lead to the satisfaction of images we have been sold as either a symbol of some sort of societal status, or a couple of collectables. This we do even when there has been evidence and testimonies of their meaninglessness.
Someone once said that we only find purpose when we decide to take on a journey on which we live for something other than ourselves. This has been demonstrated through tales of people who have done great work, and sometimes even put their own lives on the line for the sake of others. However, as noble as that may be, it is definitely not the only way to live our purpose. It may as well just be as simple as deciding that, from now on, whatever it is that we do shall be for the glory of the Higher power. Imagine how transformational it would be, especially in a country where 95% of its population are devoted Christians, to decide that whatever we do, we will do in the glory of GOD. This we must do if we really want to live as a happy, caring and prosperous society.
Imagine a taxi driver, a bricklayer, a mechanic, a car dealer, a supervisor, a manager, a doctor or a nurse who does their work, first and foremost, for the glory of GOD. What a beautiful world it would be.
*Uncommon Sense is published bi-weekly in the New Era with contributions from Karlos Naimwhaka. YouTube channel: Karlos Lokos