Who Are You?

Who are you? What are you doing here?

Who am I? I've spent my entire life defining myself by what I did. In high school, I would have called myself a gamer. In college, I would have said, "I'm a dancer and a pre-med student." Now, I am a doctor. With the rise and fall of each identity, I found myself often in search of something else to define myself by.

This seems to be the case for so many people today. They spend their entire lives trying to find something to provide self-worth and purpose, whether it be career, money, power, fame, even family, etc. Unfortunately, all of these things can collapse in an instant. Careers can end overnight. Financial ruin can come sweep away a business with a wrong turn of the market. Family members can "fail to live up to who we wanted them to be." These failures lead people into anxiety and depression because they failed at what they defined themselves by.

That's the problem when you base your worth on transient things.

I do not define myself by my career. I'm not defined by how much money I can make. I'm not defined by my political sphere of influence. I'm not defined by how well my future kids "succeed" in life. I can definitely do my best to improve my life in all of these areas, but ultimately, all of these things belong to forces beyond my control. In fact, I would argue that it's foolish to think that I have any right to define my worth or purpose at all. A machine can't tell you its purpose. Only its engineer can.

Sentinel Peak @ Sequoia National Park

So who I am?

What defines me? Where do I came from? Who made me? The only answer that is unwavering and sustaining is God. I am a child of God. I was made by Him, and despite all of my shortcomings, Jesus still decided to die for my sins. That act alone defines my worth and cannot be changed or manipulated by anything on earth. Only when I base my life on this unbreakable foundation will I be able to enjoy peace and stability that endures through any circumstance.

What am I doing here?

I am called to serve. Serve God and serve His people. As a Christian, I don't serve out of duty, but rather, I serve out of gratitude for the one-way ticket to Heaven that I've already received (because Jesus died to give me that gift). Therefore, I serve God in plastic surgery. I serve Him in dedication to my future wife and kids. In building a relationship with my parents, my sister, and my friends. In giving to my community. I happily serve Him in all things and in all circumstances. I'm done needing to redefine myself. So what about you?

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

~6/4/2017