A doctor who was in Grand Island at the time wanted to see me for himself, because he wanted to see the “miracle baby.” I always knew from as a small child that there was a God, and that prayer could be powerful and effective.
When I was five years old, I was shopping at a bookstore with my mom. I didn’t have any money and decided to slip a little eraser that was shaped like a snowman into my pocket. I left the store with my mom. I went home and felt very, very guilty. I eventually confessed to my mom that I had stolen the eraser. She took the opportunity to tell me about how Christ had died for my sins. She said if I asked him to be my Savior, I could have eternal life. That night I prayed with my dad to receive Christ. I remember feeling like Christ had forgiven my sins and I knew I would live with Christ someday. (My mom took me back to the store and hid around the corner because she was embarassed, while I paid for the eraser and returned it.)
My faith continued to grow and after I graduated from UNK, I ended up attending a conservative Bible college in Wyoming for three years. While I was there I saw teachers who were living on missionary support, with modest homes, and modest lives investing in young people. They were not teaching in a university, with a comfortable income because their meaning in life came teaching young people about God and equipping them to serve in ministry. They believed in storing up rewards in heaven, and not so much on earth. They had found a way to find meaning in their life.
I ended up co-leading a Bible study in the Scottsbluff County Jail for three years. It was a ministry that I enjoyed. I wanted people to have a personal relationship with God, and have hope for a meaningful life. I graduated after three years from that Bible Institute. I walked away from that school knowing in my heart, the Word of God had the power to change lives.
Now, I am 32 years old. I am delighted to know God, but I think I am still in a growing process. I sometimes sit and read Ecclesiastes, where the wisest man in the world who had all the women he wanted, and had funded great building project, beautifying the world. However, he seemed to struggle with finding meaning. I think many of us would think that if we had the wisdom, power, and prestige that Solomon had, we would be happy. He had all the women he wanted, all the money he wanted, and yet he was frustrated with life and at times, found it to be empty.
There are times in my life where I think, “If I had more money, I would have less anxiety about the future.” But when I think back to my friend who had a very rich dad. I remember comparing the two dads, her rich dad and my dad who was a rancher. I remember thinking I have the best deal, because my dad loves me and not material things. Her dad would spend time watching sports on the big screen, and my dad would actually take time for me. Life is not about the acquisition of “stuff” but about loving and spending time with people.
After, I had attended Bible school for a while, a fellow student jokingly said to me “What is the meaning of life?” I automatically responded to him by saying “to glorify God.” In Colossians 1:18 it states “that in all things he [Christ] might have the preeminence. It sounds simple, but sometimes I think life really isn’t about us at all. Once we start figuring out that happiness isn’t the ultimate goal, but pleasing God is, it is then our lives will be more meaningful and fulfilling.
