Tag Archives: finding meaning in life

The Real Thing

How many times in life do you seek an emotional high?  One that never ends; giving you a sensation like a drug, 24 hours a day.  Many go through their entire lives searching, but never find the real thing.

Do you recall your first day of school?  As formal education begins, innocence gives way to curiosity and terror.  Fears over finding friends and earning acceptance by your peers takes precedence.  However, the thought of being away from your parents provides a sense of freedom temporarily.  This freedom entices you to try new things, experimenting with fruit, forbidden by parents and teachers.

By the time junior high arrives, eyes start to wander… BABES, STUDS, ALCOHOL and DRUGS!  Perhaps you might not be as distracted as some, yet juicy stories spread fast through the grape vine peeking your interest.  The closer you look, the mind takes on an alter ego, longing for items on the other side of the fence.  Fleshly desires, peer pressure and the unknown leads you to the verge of sin thinking, “Oh baby this sure does feel good.”

A junior high experiment often leads to a senior high life style.  Marijuana, pranks and sex are just a few of the choice behaviors one indulges in to obtain the real thing.  Sure, there are risks, even consequences; but what will my friends think if I go straight?  “Everybody is doing it, why can’t I,” says the follower.  As high school drifts by, the next hurdle to jump is college.  Hobbies you once did for a buzz no longer provide satisfaction.  Call it what you may: a habit, obsession, way of life or obliterating time, something inside can’t let go.  This quest for real life has turned into an addiction.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why you do what you do?  Has it occurred to you that you’ve missed something along the way?  Is there something else out there beside living for the weekend?  I don’t believe you and I were placed on this earth by accident.  Growing up, working for a living 9 to 5, have fun for a while then repeat this cycle over and over again til you die?  This doesn’t make sense!  There must be a greater purpose or meaning in life, but what is it?

Jesus Christ, the son of God the Father is your answer.  God sent His one and only son, Jesus, down to earth, to die for blemishes on earth, John 3:16-17.  Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father according to the Apostle’s Creed.  Jesus didn’t just die on a cross and rise from the dead for His own glory, Romans 5:8.  Rather, Jesus became sin for us: for you, me and everyone ever born on planet earth.  Jesus did all of this so that all of us might be seen as righteousness before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

This may sound crazy, yet there is no other HIGH greater than entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ, Romans 10:9-10.  Nothing else compares to dedicating your life to God in your living years, John 10:10.  Thus, peace is found in no other place, Galatians 5:22-23.  This isn’t about High’s and Low’s.  This is about life and death, living and dying, Deuteronomy 30:11-16.  The only way to Jesus is through denying yourself, Matthew 16:25.  You may think I’m odd, strange or simply old-fashion, yet God has placed the words of this blog on my heart.

If you have tried most everything else, don’t waste your precious time any longer; embrace the Real Thing, Jesus Christ!

(c) Jay Mankus, 1991.

Revision completed in 2014 by Jay Mankus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh No You Don’t!

On the night of December 30th, I noticed 3 of my friends did not come to work, a sign of layoffs after the Christmas season.  Recognizing the situation, one of the full time employees congratulated me as our shift began saying, “Hey, you made the cut; now you have a few months to prove what you can do!”  At 12 midnight, the usual bell signaled our lunch break, a mid-night snack to mark the first few minutes of New Years Eve 2012.  As I sat down, I felt pretty good, examining in my mind what it meant to keep my job and why I was chosen over several other qualified individuals.  Just when I thought I knew the mind of God, I was forced to take the walk of shame, with 2 other temps, escorted out of the building 4 hours later.  I felt as if God was saying, “Oh no you don’t,” like His words to Job beginning in Job 38:2.

Unfortunately, sometimes you can read too much into every day events.  However, there are moments in history where God clearly does not want you to succeed so He will lead you into His perfect will, Romans 12:2.  Such is the case when I thought I was going to be a P.G.A. teaching professional 16 years ago.  The first step to meet this goal was to pass the players ability test, known as the P.A.T. by assistant golf pros.  The objective is to shoot a set score or lower for 36 holes based upon the difficulty of the course, known as the slope.  On the 6,600 yard, par 72 links style layout in Chicago, I had to shoot 155.  I played a practice round a week before this tournament so I could develop a game plan as well as get use to the speed of the huge greens.  Due to the numerous water hazards, I decided to leave my driver behind, playing all 36 holes with my 3 medal.

Crescent Pointe

On a windy day in July, 50 assistants set out to break through early in the morning for an 8 hour grind of endurance and nerves to demonstrate their golfing skills.  Despite a chili-dip on the second hole, a penalty stroke, 5 3-putts and a 4 putt, I still shot 79 on the first 18 holes, needing only a 76 to earn my player’s card.  I began the second round with a flurry, 1 under through 4 holes.  Despite another ball in the water and double bogey, I only needed to card a 37 to complete my journey on the final 9.  Two more 3 putts, one for par and 5 missed birdie putts under 10 feet led me to shoot 157, 2 shy of the mark.  Only 4 assistants fulfilled their dreams on this day, one of whom was in my group.  In fact, like the Amazon employee above, he said after the round, “I can’t believe you didn’t make it!”

Looking back on this day, it was as if God put a lid over the hole so my ball would not drop in.  This failure eventually led me to Delaware for an amazing 10 years of coaching high school golf and teaching the Bible to middle and high school students.  While I am far from comprehending the mind of God, I do know from personal experience that the Lord uses road blocks to divert individuals toward the right city, church or occupation.  Although the apostle Paul really wanted to visit the province of Asia in Acts 16:6-7, the Holy Spirit had other plans for his ministry, stopping him in his tracks.  Likewise, as I wrestle through another setback in life, I’m waiting for God to change His tune from “Oh no you don’t to I’d been waiting for your arrival!”

By Jay Mankus