Belief

This week our teacher posed the question of, “One thing I have learned to be true during my life is…” This got me thinking about my life thus far. I have survived eighteen long years of life. That’s more than a few people have had the pleasure of living. In eighteen years I have learned a plethora of different lessons. However, throughout all the different lessons there is one truth that I still hold dear.

            My one truth is to believe. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to believe in God, but belief gives your life meaning. For me, I believe in God. I love Jesus, but I didn’t always. There was a time in my life that I hated God. I thought he was out to get me. I figured if he truly was there for me…well he’d have made sure that nothing bad ever happened to me. Then I went to one of the most WONDERFUL places on Earth. It’s a church camp called Chapel Rock. One week a year I go to Prescott, Arizona. That week I get to leave all my troubles and drama behind and really focus on God. They people there help you to learn that you don’t have to face the world alone. You will always have God. It was there that I was able to see the beauty in God.

That camp was the place I realized that God didn’t cause hardships, but He helped you through them. He is always looking over your shoulder and guiding you. After that week, I began to see the beauty in everything, and my life improved in a major way. I wasn’t so negative about everything. I started to pray almost every day.  When I talked to God I felt like I could take on the world. However, belief doesn’t always refer to God.

You can have belief in just about anything. There is a book called This I Believe. The book is a compilation of essays where people talk about a truth they have learned. There were people who talked about tipping the pizza guy, or wearing footy pajamas. Believing can be a dedication such as a dedication to a sport. My brother believes so deeply that he will be a running back for the Pittsburg Steelers that is guiding his life. He plays football every year. To stay in shape the rest of the year he plays baseball, basketball, and he wrestles. His belief in his dream has given him direction and purpose.

            The lesson this week is just to believe. Find something that you’re really passionate about and dedicate yourself to it. Now, that doesn’t mean that you should stop eating, sleeping, and going to school for this one belief. It just means that you should let this belief guide you even if that belief isn’t in God. Just try to believe in yourself, your dreams, or whatever else you are passionate about. Do this, and you will find true happiness and fulfillment.