What defines me…?

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, dangerous I know, however I have decided to risk it. I was listening to a conversation not to long ago, the subject of this conversation was how to gauge success in the life of a young person, or any person for that matter.

My thought on this matter is what do we call success? Who defines what success is for one person in comparison to another person. Who do I allow to define what success is for my life? There are so many different voices in our world today. It seems as though culture and society is doing it’s absolute best to set guidelines on what is successful and what is not.

There are so many things that effect our lives, some by our our making, and sometimes things effect and change our lives that we honestly have no control over, but is this what really defines who we are?

Every person who has ever attempted to do anything, has failed. There isn’t a person who succeeded in walking the first time they attempted to do so. So, does that fact that we failed define us as a failure, the answer is no. We get back up and attempt to put one foot in front of the other again. If you have faults, failures, and shortcomings in your past, congratulations, you are just like everyone else on this planet. So, if this logic stands, we really can’t define ourselves by our failures, but rather on getting up and continuing in the attempt to succeed.

Lastly, who makes these rules? When we go to bed at night and consider our day, who determines if it was a good day? How do you view your life? Do you pattern your life to the view that an actor in Hollywood is the definition of success? Maybe it’s a millionaire with all of their money and power that you view as a success. A politician wheeling and dealing an office or campaign? Do you define your life by a pat on the back from someone who knows your name today, but not tomorrow? Is this your definition of success?

Maybe it’s a look of joy in a child’s eye? The admiration of a son or daughter. Is it the joy of helping a neighbor or stranger. Is your life defined by the pride of a job well done. By the love and admiration of your family? Is your idea of success seeing someone you’ve been witnessing too come to the knowledge of who God is? Seeing them be saved?

Jesus stated that he had come to “seek and to save that which was lost”, Jesus was not defined by miracles, teaching, signs or wonders. His defining moment was one of agony, despair, and pain, on an old rugged Cross. This defining moment was eclipsed by yet a greater still, a resurrection moment when he rose in newness of life, and extended it to us all.

It is my prayer that our lives are defined by him!

God Bless,