Choosing my purpose
Back in medical school, we were required to do an elective—either abroad or in a local hospital different from where we trained. It was a chance to gain new experiences, and I was determined to go abroad. Like many of my classmates, I started sending out sponsorship letters, hoping someone would support my dream. I had high hopes. But one by one, the responses came in—polite rejections, or worse, silence. It was crushing. I felt like the doors were closing in on me.
Then I heard our district assembly was offering financial support to students pursuing educational opportunities. That glimmer of hope lit up something in me. I applied, and to my joy, I was invited for an interview. But just as I was preparing for it, I realized the interview date clashed with a medical outreach we had planned to a remote village.
Now, this wasn’t just any outreach. These missions meant everything to me. They were the reason I chose medicine—to serve, to connect, to heal. But this elective abroad was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was torn. I remember lying awake at night, weighing both options, feeling the pressure build in my chest. I asked myself: “What matters most to me right now?”
In the end, I chose the outreach. I couldn’t turn my back on the people who needed us most. We went deep into the hinterlands, and the experience was soul-stirring. The gratitude in the eyes of the villagers, the joy of treating patients who hadn’t seen a doctor in years—it filled me up in ways I can’t explain. I felt at peace with my decision, even though it meant I might miss out on the elective.
Weeks passed, and the travel date was approaching. I had no sponsor. I started preparing myself to either cancel the trip or ask my parents for help—something I really didn’t want to do. Then, out of the blue, I got a call. It was from the company that had sponsored our outreach. They said they had funds left over—and they wanted to use it to support my travel.
I was stunned. I remember just sitting there, phone in hand, heart pounding. I couldn’t believe it. Relief washed over me like a wave. I didn’t have to choose between service and growth—somehow, I got both.
Reflection
That experience taught me something profound: when we follow our heart and stay true to our values, life has a way of rewarding us. Not always immediately, but eventually.
Living with purpose often means taking risks, trusting the process, and believing that good things will come—even when the path looks uncertain.
Reconnecting with our Maker should awaken purpose—not excuse irresponsibility. Yet many misuse faith as a refuge from accountability, forgetting that mercy isn’t permission for willful excess. True faith calls us to live aligned, not entitled.
Serenity
When we walk in divine purpose, provision follows like a shadow. Faith isn’t blind—it sees what purpose reveals. Go for it!
May we have the audacity of faith to go for our purpose. Amen
