What is life all about?  What makes it worth living?  There are so many different answers to this question, and I have answered it differently throughout my life.

My junior year in high school I would have answered that life is all about being happy.  I wanted to make my friends like me so I could feel good.  I wanted to get good grades so I could get in to a good college.  I wanted to meet a cute girl so I could be happy.  I was continually focused on me, on my needs and on my satisfaction.  The more I sought those things the more empty I felt.

So I redefined life.  I wanted to live life to help meet others needs.  I did this for a few years.  I would stay up late at night on the phone with people that did not care at all what I had to say.  I would work myself to the point of exhaustion trying to “fix” the problems in people’s lives and just kept being disappointed when they didn’t care.

Eventually, I was given an incredible opportunity to serve at Church by the Glades in south FL in the student ministry there.  My life started to change again.  I was leading bible studies, mentoring students, being available for advice and counseling.  Last year, I was given the opportunity to lead a high school guys small group.  I love those guys.  They teach me more than I teach them by far.  But at a point during the year our small group took part in a retreat called Uprising.  As part of the retreat, the leaders (that’s me) washed the feet of the guys in their group.  I was so excited about this opportunity.  I prayed over them while I did it, telling them the strengths I saw in them and how much God loved and wanted to use them.  Then it happened.  When I had finished, I got up to clean up but my boys stopped me.  They asked me for the honor of washing my feet and praying over me.  I was astonished.  It was one of the most incredible moments of my life.

That is what life is all about.  Making a difference in others lives with Christ’s love.  Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  We need to be the light in the darkness, to change lives and pull others out of their pain through the transforming power of Jesus.  Find your purpose in living your life in service to God, and see how He uses you to change the world.