There is a tragedy deeper than failure, poverty, or even death: reaching the end of life without discovering why you were here. A person can work, earn money, raise a family, gain respect, and still feel empty. Existence is not purpose. Myles Munroe spent much of his life teaching that every person was created with a purpose. His message remains urgent in a world obsessed with achievement.
We measure success by money, titles, houses, cars, certificates, and social influence. We ask, “What do you do?” but rarely ask, “Why do you do it?” A job provides income; purpose provides direction. Money can improve life, but it cannot give life meaning. Without purpose, success becomes an impressive journey toward an empty destination.
This crisis is visible among young people. Many chase careers they do not love because society demands quick success. Others measure their worth by social media applause. Some abandon their gifts because their first attempts fail. Yet purpose does not always arrive with fame. A teacher who transforms a child, a farmer who feeds a community, a parent who raises responsible children, or a civil servant who chooses integrity can live a powerful life.
Purpose often begins with a burden, a gift, or a problem you cannot ignore. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What problem can I solve? Whom can I serve? What would I continue doing without applause? These questions can reveal more about your calling than a résumé ever will. Do not wait for success before pursuing purpose. Let purpose guide your pursuit of success.
The cemetery is a sobering picture of unrealised potential. It contains unwritten books, undeveloped talents, abandoned ideas, and dreams postponed until it was too late. This should not make us afraid of death; it should make us serious about life. We do not need to become famous to matter. We need to use what we have, serve where we can, and leave something better than we found it.
One day, every title will disappear, every possession will change hands, and every applause will fade. What will remain is the influence of the life we lived. So the question is not simply, “Did I succeed?” It is, “Did my life make a difference?” The greatest tragedy is not that life ends. It is reaching the end without discovering what your life was meant to accomplish.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
08152094428 (SMS Only)
