Dear Children,
You asked me an intriguing question: if I could go back in time, would I choose a different career? I’ve pondered this for weeks, and it’s more complex than it might seem. You see, I believe life is about fulfilling a purpose, the one God created us for. My purpose, though it has slightly changed in wording over the years, has long been: through Jesus, to courageously love, inspire, and guide others to passionately live eternally fulfilling adventures. Recently, this has evolved into a prayer: “Jesus, help me to courageously love, inspire, and guide so others rejoice in fulfilling the purpose You created them for today.”
Since I don’t see this purpose as a choice of mine, but rather the purpose I was created for, my decision is only whether to pursue and attempt to fulfill it for God’s glory or not. In my lifetime, I’ve attempted to fulfill this through various roles – as a salesperson meeting many people, a business owner mentoring employees, a public speaker, a writer, and a religion teacher, among others. So, the career is merely a tool for a higher purpose.
If I were to go back in time, I would still be created by God for the same purpose, the career would still just be a tool. It’s not really mine; it’s an opportunity given by God to fulfill the purpose He sets before me each day. Everything I am and have, including each day I wake up to, is a gift from God. I must admit, sometimes I forget this and treat these gifts as if they’re mine, which is regrettable.
When I think about the magnificence of God, I realize if the day were mine, then it would be up to me to find a mission, help or not help others, and it wouldn’t matter much – it would be my day to waste. But because my life is not my own, because I was created by the same Creator who made the universe for a purpose He saw from its beginning, I wake up each day for a reason. People cross my path for a reason. Each day is an adventure in fulfilling a purpose that is divine in both its nature and relevance.
I shouldn’t have worries or fears but should be filled with passion, energy, and love, for the Creator died for my sins and has given me each day, of which I’ve deserved none and can control even less. So, to answer your question, I really have no idea what career I would choose if I went back in time because it’s not my choice. The career is just a tool; my daily choice is to follow God or pretend to be Him.
With love,
Dad