What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? How am I supposed to fill the time I have on this earth? These are common questions everyone asks themselves at one point in their life. Some become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, construction workers etc. During high school these questions were flying through my head. What am I supposed to do with my life? Where do I go from here? As an 18 year old boy in high school these questions are hard to answer, but I was longing for answers. My grades in school were not the best. I had no interest in my classes to say the least. College didn’t seem like an option for me so I went with the other common route: the Military; the Marine Corps to be exact. I became very attracted to the Marine Corps (although I had no idea what I was really doing) because it seemed fun, exciting, and I was looking for a major accomplishment in my life. I thought being a Marine would give me that. As time went on, the decision to join the Military had its high and lows. Sometimes I was super excited and sometimes I was scared. My mom kept telling me to read the Bible and really pray about this decision. I prayed, but I never opened the Bible. I always said, “Why wouldn’t God want me to join?” Ha! Little did I know! The day finally came to go to the Military Entrancing Processing Station (MEPS) where I took a test and experienced an excessive physical. The time came for the oath to be enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program, (basically a pre oath before taking the real one) and at this time I experienced a very strong and uncomfortable feeling. It hit me right then and there that this was not God’s will for my life. After coming home I broke the news to my recruiter. He wasn’t exactly thrilled, but he took the news relatively well given the circumstances.
At this point I thought, “Now, what do I do?” The plan for my life just took a complete 180 degree turn. Well back to the drawing board to plan this little thing called “my life”. I decided to go back to school because in this society that’s the main way to provide for yourself. I thought, “Hey I love history so why not become a history teacher!?” I took some classes at the local college, and it went well, but still I left feeling empty. I knew there was so much more to life than going to school and working a typical 8 to 5 job. I wanted to do something that would really make a difference in the lives of people, not just on this earth, but for one that lasts for eternity. I now understand why God allowed for me to search for so long. He wanted me to finally go to Him and to really find His will for my life, not my own. I believe this is just the beginning of God’s plan for my life. This is a way to mold me for whatever my future holds, whether that means to be a missionary, pastor or even a typical 8 to 5 job. I may not know now, but I do know if I have faith and give it all to God, He will provide the path in which He wants me to take. The World Race is just the beginning but I know God will change my life forever through this once in a lifetime trip around the world.
