This I Believe

In the brief 23 years of my life, I have learned that wisdom begins and ends with humility. I reflect back on my childhood, still fresh in my memory, and realize that my ambitions then and now are in stark contrast. Being humble is not usually a characteristic that most people are driven to obtain. I believe that when we strive to be humble in our journey of life, we begin to learn much – not only about our own selves, but about the world around us. I am moved by what I see through the eyes of humility. I am constantly reminded of the suffering of those who are less fortunate than I am. This leads me to continue my journey to uncover something that cannot readily seen.

My newfound insight on human suffering leads me to embark on a quest to uncover my views on humanity. On my journey, I am constantly amazed at our capacity to love, create, and imagine. How a simple smile can alter the course of a person’s future, I do not know. I stand in awe at the marvels people have created with their artful hands. And on the other side of the spectrum, I am sometimes left speechless at the crimes we are capable of committing. My journey leads me to a place where I can no longer close my eyes to the majority of people on this earth who are neglected, cold, and hungry. To me, a reality lived ignoring the lives of the less fortunate is a mere delusion.

During the course of my journey, as I contemplate the human condition, I am confronted with the inescapable: my own mortality. Walking down the aisle of my local supermarket, I can’t help but smile at the elderly couple discussing their dinner plans and wonder what amazing stories they have to tell. My grandmother sometimes talks about how she quietly crept past enemy lines during the Korean War, carrying my mother on her back under the cover of night. I hear the stories of those who came before me and wonder if anyone will remember them after the storytellers have left us. I come to the realization that even though the stories may not be remembered, the lives that these people have touched will shape the course of human history in ways that I cannot possibly fathom.

I’ve heard that a butterfly flapping its wings in Africa can cause a chain reaction that causes an avalanche in Antarctica. Perhaps this cannot be scientifically proven, but I believe that what I do here in the now has cosmic significance, both in the realm of the seen and unseen. The idea that my life can alter the course of another’s in a significant way brings me to my knees. With this newfound wisdom, I realize that there is no time to lose. As the timeless clichT states, life is much too short. At the tender age of 23, I feel as if I am running out of time!

The journey that began with humility has lead me to an unexpected place. I know now that I can change the world. There is much for me to do. Every day brings the promise of adventure. As I dive headfirst into the unknown, I realize that the journey has just begun – and I know I cannot go it alone. I look to the one who humbled Himself before the very people He created; Jesus Christ.