If you are like everyone I have ever met, then you’ve probably wondered at one point or another what your purpose is. What is your calling? What should you do with your life? Why are you even here? These questions seem dramatic, but I bet everyone has confronted them at one point or another. These questions are important. Every single person is here on purpose for a purpose! When we wander away from God, we lose sight of this purpose.
Our society literally lies to us. It tells us that happiness comes from doing whatever we want, whenever we want. It encourages impurity and sin. It shows us all these things in a way that makes it look inviting. It tells us to look out for ourselves and to put ourselves first.
I’ve fallen into these traps. I’ve tried to forge my own happiness the way that society tells me to. I’ve tried putting myself first and doing whatever I want. It didn’t work for me.
After I realized that the things of this world left me emptier than ever, I tried to stop participating. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. St. Augustine wrote in Confessions about the battle of our two wills.
*We have a higher will and a lower will and they are at war with each other. Our higher will is our desire to do what is right, what is good, and what is noble. It is the will that Jesus is calling us to follow. Meanwhile, our lower will is attracted to the world. This will is all about self and pleasure. Even though it is the lower will it is still strong and very real. We are, no matter how hard we try on our own, always going to be attracted to the things of this world. They are enticing and tempting.
St. Augustine explains in detail our temptation to only want to follow the higher will halfway. That is why we struggle so hard to leave behind the things of this world. We know that it is very good for us to follow our higher will, and that this will is the path to happiness, but for some reason we still only want it halfway.
Do you want to be happy? Then you should know that happiness is found in the pursuit of your purpose. If you are wondering what your purpose is, then let Mother Angelica tell you:
“We were created by God for the express purpose of radiating His Son, Jesus, in our own particular and unique way. We give Him glory by freely choosing to be what His Wisdom designed us to be. Holiness of life is not the privilege of a chosen few — it is the obligation, the call and the will of God for every Christian.”
There you have it. If you are searching for happiness and purpose, start searching for holiness.
Check out these links for more of Mother Angelica’s wisdom:
https://catholicexchange.com/us-called-holiness
https://catholicexchange.com/mother-angelicas-basic-guide-holiness
*I highly recommend St. Augustine’s Confessions for anyone looking to read an intellectual book. Also, read it so you can enjoy the full wisdom of his description of our two wills. Mine doesn’t do it justice.
