Pursuing Purpose
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Science. After graduating, eager for a change, I began applying for environmental health related jobs all over the country. I was offered employment with the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), which is what brought me to Las Vegas four years ago. Although I appreciate my job greatly, recently, I have felt a desire to pursue a career in something that I am very passionate about—environmental protection. I am not sure what this will look like for me and I have my hesitations, but it is my hope that I can find a way to combine my passion and gainful employment. “Work, gym, and church” is how I’ve described my life in Las Vegas. The majority of my time was split between these three places. I work about 40 hours a week, I exercise/play at an aerial fitness gym 3-4 days a week, and I unite with other believers on Sundays for church and during the week for bible study or small group meetings. In my pursuit for purpose, I have been praying for direction and guidance in these areas of my life. |
Work: As mentioned previously, I would love to have a career that aligns with my passion. It is my wish to get up every day excited to go to work! Not only that, I desire for my work to bring glory to God.
Gym: I am not sure how my aerial arts fits in the grand scheme of things. Aside from something fun to do, it is possibly a way for me to reach people through art. Currently, it is just a fun pastime. But sometimes, I do find myself wondering if I should be more purposeful with how I spend my free time. Church: I have pretty much grown up in the church. In Detroit, I spent many Sundays sitting in the pews watching my uncle/pastor preach. At various points in my life, I have felt a desire to have a deeper relationship with God. Gradually, over many years, that has happened. As I look back, I can see a definite increase in understanding of what it means to be a Christian and to follow Christ. Through the years, I have transitioned from just “going through the motions” to actively seeking understanding and intimacy with God. Most recently, this “active seeking” came in the form of a mission to read the bible from start to finish (after coming to the realization that I have never actually read the bible from Genesis to Revelation). I am currently still trekking through the Old Testament. This is certainly no small feat or undertaking. Sometimes, it seems that the more I read, the more questions I have. My prayer is that God keeps me focused and steadfast and that He allows this “journey” to bring me into a deeper relationship with Him. I have faith that it will. |
My greatest desire is to lead a purpose-driven life, with God at the center. A pastor once used a pie analogy to illustrate where God should fit within our lives. We often try to portion out our lives – this slice is church, this slice is family, this slice is work, etc. But God should not be a slice – He should be the crust. He should be a part of everything that we do. Currently, I still struggle with that. I still struggle with “going through the motions.” But with each new day comes a little more progress. It is my hope that one day I can look at my life and say “God is the crust that holds it all together”.
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