Why am I here? This is one of the most fundamental questions that we can ask, and it is a question that is on the mind of many people at various stages in life. As part of the “His Story in Our Story” series that I began on December 9, I thought I’d share the very beginning of my story – when I was born.

Much of the information in this story comes from second- or third-hand retelling because, of course, I have no direct recollection of the event of my birth. I can tell you this, though. I have two siblings, and we are quite far apart in age and for apparently good reason. My sister was born eighteen years before I was. I don’t have any recollection of her living in our house as my sister because by the time I remember her, she was already married. I’ve seen pictures of me at her wedding and that’s about the extent of my memory. From what I understand, my mother had quite some difficulty with the delivery and was told by doctors that she probably should not try to have any more children. I’ve been told that she chose to have her tubes tied at that point.

Then my brother came along eight years later. God apparently had other plans for my mother bearing more children. Again, she had difficulty with the birth, from what I’ve been told, and nearly died. Also, from what I’ve been told, my dad opted to get “snipped” to prevent this from happening again.

And then I came along ten years later. Again, from what I’ve been told, it was a difficult pregnancy and delivery, and when I was born I was premature and had hyaline membrane disease (HMD), a disease which became nationally well-known two years later when President John F. Kennedy’s newborn died with it after living for two days.

My dad was told that I would not live through the night and he was allowed to bring my sister and brother in to the ICU to see me, which was not usually allowed. At the time, my parents were members of the Evergreen Baptist Church in Evergreen, Colorado, and that church called an all-night prayer meeting. Needless to say, I didn’t die. Sometime during the night, and also during that prayer meeting, my collapsed lungs began functioning and by morning doctors determined that I was going to be okay.

So… why am I here? It’s pretty obvious to me that God had a purpose planned for my life. After 62 years, have I fulfilled my purpose? I’ve done a lot of things and have followed God faithfully at times, and at other times I’ve chosen my own path. But I’m reminded of a button that I was given as a youth that had the letters “PBPGINFWMY” on it. That stands for “Please be patient. God is not finished with me yet.” Just as God was determined that I would live, so my life continues to be in His hands.

God has placed all of us on Earth for a purpose. First and foremost, our purpose is to come to know and have a relationship with Him, our creator. The apostle Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:9 that God will bring judgment on the world for sin, but he is waiting – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” But the next verse also reminds us that God will not hold off judgment forever – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.“

Once you come to repentance, though, God’s purpose for you continues. Ten years ago Rick Warren wrote an article for Lifeway titled “What on Earth am I here for?” This is tied to his Purpose Driven Life series. He explains that God has five essential purposes for his people.

1. to center our lives around Him.
2. to learn to love his people.
3. to cultivate spiritual maturity.
4. to contribute to His mission.
5. to tell others about His love.

It is my hope that you find purpose in your life. God put you here for that purpose!