Why am I here?
Why do I do the things I do?
Is there any meaning to my life?
Why does suffering exist?
Does God hear my prayer?
How can I make a difference?
Questions like these, which we inevitably ask ourselves from time to time, are signs of the transcendent at work within us. Transcendence is at work whenever we seek to connect our personal experiences with a larger purpose in order to find meaning. We seem built for this. We pray, we work, we write, we study, we serve, we seek love and lasting friendships.
Our ability to find meaning in a larger purpose helps us navigate difficult times, both individually and as a society. On this day 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech appealed to the transcendent principles of equality, justice and the inherent dignity of each person in order to improve the lives of African-Americans and make a great nation even greater.
So as the semester begins I invite you to reflect on a few questions:
What goals and dreams brought you here?
Who were the mentors that set you on this path?
What problems are you seeking to solve with your education?
Where do you go for strength when things get tough?
Write down some thoughts. Spend some time thinking and reflecting on them to get a sense of the big picture and underlying principles driving your daily actions. They will help to propel you forward when you get bogged down in the day to day challenges of college life.
Dare, like Dr. King, to dream big and to make a difference in your life and in the world.
Message from Campus Ministry
Published: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:05:13 +0000 by c.george