Mark Twain was one of the most iconic American writers in history. He also penned numerous quotes of wit and wisdom that are as timeless as they are funny and/or important. One of my favorites: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” It seems that far too many of us wander through life aimlessly – waiting for our purpose to find us, instead of actively seeking purpose in life. I began college at UGA with a major of “undecided” – and spent a large part of my young adulthood undecided. The reason(s) are many, but the most pressing reason is watching what happened to people when they “grew up”. I have tried hard to remain young at heart, and keep that optimistic view we all have in our youth – even when circumstances should have caused me to think otherwise. I still have hope, and a belief that most people want to do the right thing. Hayes Carll covers a Tom Waits song that talks about the pitfalls of growing up.
I was blessed to grow up in the family God gave me – my extended family as well as my immediate family. The older I get, the more I realize just how special and wonderful it is. I was loved, protected, encouraged, and respected in a way that most people never receive. I was taught, from a young age, the importance of a good work ethic, education, respect for elders, and how to have empathy for those dealing with life struggles. It allowed me to have a strong and positive self esteem and outlook without crossing the line into arrogance or self importance. Every time I began getting too big for my britches, a family member would lovingly pull me back in line and show me the error of my ways. If that failed, God would take matters into his own hands. On more than one occasion, he had to take everything away from me to get my attention. Each time I would lose myself in the work I was doing at the time as a way to focus my energy and effort. As such, I became a workaholic. He finally had to take that away from me to get my full, undivided attention. There is nothing like being physically broken to make you stop and realize just how dependent you are on God, and how blessed you are to live through things you should not have. This song by Jason Isbell is probably the closest description to where I am in my life right now.
You see, God still has not revealed what I am on this earth to do, but I expect he will – in his time, on his terms. You may or may not believe me, but I have worked harder since my body became disabled than I ever did as an abled person. The difference? The difference lies in the pay, and where the work is happening. Thoreau probably said it best: “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” So, sorry Mr. Clemens. Maybe one day soon I will get the second piece to the puzzle. For now, I just thank God for the work.