Why You
Matter
Dustin
Vick MS
Do
I really have a soul?
Do I have a soul? That seems
like a reasonable question to ask, but how can you prove it. Understand that if
you can prove you have a soul, then it disproves that you are simply some
evolutionary accident and that in fact there is much more to you than simple
physiology. In an exercise that takes two people I will prove to you that you
indeed have a soul. Have someone stand
in front of you facing you. Close your eyes and concentrate, focusing on where
you are internally and quietly. Have the person touch you on your stomach. Answer
this question: is that below you, above you, beside you or centered on you?
Repeat the same questions touching your shoulders, chest, and top of your head.
Then have them touch you right between your eyes. The same questions will be
asked, and the correct conclusion will be that yes, touching between your eyes
is where you are centered. There you will find your “I am” or to be blunt, the
residence of your soul. It does not live in your chest, or your heart, but is
centered in the cortex of your mind controlling the designed machine that is
your body, and it is very busy most of the time, even as you sleep it regulates
every function. Why is it significant to know that without any reservations we
have a soul? The answer is because it opens so many doors of greater and deeper
understanding into why we matter, and to whom.
Why
am I Here?
So, after establishing that
there is a soul, which suggests that there is something special about your
creation, then why are you here? Or in everyday terms, what is the meaning of
life? Establishing a fundamental belief in a greater power than yourself, it
leads you to wonder what they are up too. Well, it is a little more complex
than a science experiment, but it is also easy to explain and understand if you
let that very soul you have discovered listen for the answers. Putting all the
mumbo jumbo garbage you hear from Hollywood and so called
“learned men” lets establish a base to build on.
Say that your
father created a company. He built a strong foundation and a perfect business
model that depended on a balance of justice and mercy to run smoothly. He wants nothing more than to hand over the
business to you when you are ready, but first you must be educated and trained.
You must understand how it feels to work at every level of the company and how
to handle every single trial that may come your way at those positions. In the
end, if you follow his plan for you, and work really hard doing your best, even
if you fall short, he has a safety net in place that will allow the most
diligent efforts to branch out his business. Just remember the words of the
savior when he was asked why he had stayed behind as a boy at the temple “I am
about my fathers business”, think about it. He is even so loving and merciful
that any effort at all gets some reward within the company. So, why are you
here? To learn how to run the company. The company is creation, the owner is
your father in heaven, and because he has worked so hard to put you here and
give you this opportunity, obviously you matter, a lot.
This life is full
of opportunity to learn and experience all the things that our creator already
knows. The beautiful loophole that has been put in place was contracted by our
older brother and our fathers firstborn son, the only begotten, the Lord and
savior of the world, Jesus Christ. He has already paid a price of learning all
of the pitfalls of the business, he can step in for us at the final interview
and on our behalf, state that he has already covered and endured the areas that
we fell short in as long as we are willing to continue to try and learn he will
supervise.
What
Do the Scripture Tell Us About Where We Came From?
In the book of Proverbs
tells us that we were with our father before he created the earth, and that we
communed with Jesus Christ as a family. Here are the verses found in chapter 8:
23 I was set up from aeverlasting,
from the bbeginning,
or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was
brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with
water.25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought
forth:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor athe highest
part of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set aacompass upon
the face of the depth:28 When he established the clouds above: when he
strengthened the fountains of the deep:29 When he gave to the sea his
decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the
foundations of the earth:30 Then I was by him, as one
brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him;31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his
earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. There are many
more places that confirm this, but that will be your task to find them. We have
been given the instruction manual (The scriptures) but we must open them and
learn.
So
it is recorded that we actually did come from somewhere. We came from a place
that was before earth, and we must assume that we dwelled there without the
restrictions of mortality. The frail human body is for this world. It is
imperfect and flawed, but it is the perfect vehicle in which our souls to
learn. Without the mortal frame how would we understand pain, or joy, or
hunger, or sadness, or pride, or love. All of this, it has a purpose. That is
why you matter, a lot.
The
misleading media, the devils playground
We see it every
day. The ads and shows on television, the music we hear, the internet,
magazines, and the list goes on and on. You must be rich to be happy. You must
be skinny. You must travel. You must engage in immoral behavior. You must use
substances to “enhance” life’s experiences via alcohol or drugs. Marriage is an
old worn out tradition. There is nothing wrong with pornography, or violence,
or infidelity. These are everyday sentiments in our world today. Those that
fight against them are ridiculed, mocked, even persecuted to some degree. This
can easily sway us to feel like participating to be included, because we think
if we don’t matter to the majority, we don’t matter. But seriously, the
question you must ask yourself is this: If you believe in God, and believe he
is all knowing, then he knows everything we do, even our very thoughts. Would
we do, watch, listen to, looking at all the things we do in a day if God were
standing beside us? Well? I think not. But he actually is to some degree. Why
do you think there is a huge push to disprove God exists? With no God, there is
no devil. With no devil there is no sin. With no sin, it’s a free for all! With
all of the groups that rail against Christianity and its principles, they still
believe in many of its tenants such as DON’T KILL, DON’T STEAL, DON’T LIE, you
get the picture. You can’t have it both ways. Unfortunately that is just how
society wants it. They want the buffet life experience that they can pick and
choose what to call right and wrong. They believe in some sense of moral law
but will not commit on its true origin. To succeed at the task at hand, we must
be vigilant to follow the plan. Don’t believe the hype. How many famous people
wind up in jail? How many die because of poor choices, or take their own lives.
The elitist society of always wanting to find something more to make you whole
is looking in the wrong place. The answers are not at the plastic surgeon or
the bottom of a bottle, they are in a book, and the understanding is inside us
all, just patiently waiting to be called upon to be free.
Looking
in the Mirror, Peeling Away the Layers
When you look in
the mirror, what do you see? Do you see what you have been conditioned to see
by the world around you, or is there something below the surface you have been
missing? Understanding that you matter to someone of the greatest importance
can help you see the true nature of your reason for being. You may be a little
banged up, you may have some shoulder and back strain from carrying the burden
of regret and mistakes that you as well as others still haven’t forgiven you
for. You may see nothing of significance, or to be proud of, but you are wrong.
When you are willing to look at yourself through the eyes of your creator the
qualities he has shared with you begin to become visible. If it seems
difficult, start small. What is one thing about you that you are proud of, good
at, or working on? The smallest victory is still a victory. Do you like helping
people? Do you enjoy any kind of hobby? There are limitless possibilities in
everyone; the trouble is that we wear our flaws on the outside. It is much
easier to see negative things for some reason. Once we can truly be honest with
ourselves, we can tear down and rebuild to who we can be, and who we want to
be. Make a list of things you would like to change. This can be small things as
well as larger goals. It will soon become apparent that you can produce many
significant gains in a day, a week, a month, and so on. Just always remember
you will sometimes fall short and that’s ok because it is the determination to
try again that builds true character.
A
Light Through the Darkness: Losing Yourself in the Service of Others
One of the best
ways to find out how much we really do matter is to lose ourselves in the
service of others. When we feel like we have exhauster the good we can do for
ourselves at the moment, it is always a great idea to find those that are in
need and donate an act of kindness to them. It doesn’t have to be monetary, or
even physical. Sometimes a simple phone call, a letter, or even a smile with a
“I was thinking about you today and wondered how you are” can change someone’s
impression of self-worth. It is the little things that matter. As a
psychologist, I have accidentally said things in passing to patients that was
really nothing of significance to me, but they informed me later that it was a
day changer to them. A young lady came into the office a few months back and
her normally long straight hair was curled and very pretty. I walked by and
commented that her hair looked very nice the way she was wearing it. She smiled
and said thank you and that was the end of it. Much later she told me that my
comment had made her very happy because no one had told her she looked nice in
years. I was saddened by this because every human being is beautiful in their
own way. She wept and said it was a day she would never forget. How sad is it
that such a small thing like that can mean so much? Yet, we can make minimal
efforts and move mountains. When we do something to lift others or lighten
their burdens, often we feel the benefit more than they do. Charity is the pure
love of Christ. Take time to try and make a difference to someone each day, and
soon we will see how much we truly matter too many. I complained I had no
shoes, until I saw a man with no feet; that is something to think about.
Another saying I love is that we should never look down at someone unless it is
while reaching to pull them up. As we lose ourselves in service, we stumble
upon self-worth. You matter.
