What do you do when life isn’t going as planned? When the future is unsure, and you don’t know what is going to happen?
I’m a twenty-year-old college student who has absolutely no idea what I am going to do with my life. My future is filled with a hundred different paths that stretch out before me, and I don’t know which one to take. Which path is plausible? Which is good? And most importantly, which one is God-approved?
Author Ashley Mae pictured above
After two years of living in the same condo complex, I didn't know my neighbors. So, when the church sermon of the week was titled 'Loving Your Neighbor,' I rolled my eyes. "I live in a condo! It's so much harder to meet people than in a real neighborhood!" At least... that's what I thought.
I bit the bullet and decided to see what God could do. "Hey, God, if you have someone you want me to meet, please open that door." Let's just say I didn't expect much.
Ben Higgins is the infamous former "Bachelor," and since - he's gained tremendous fame as a reality star. With 1.4 million Instagram followers and millions more who know his name, Ben decided to use his platform for a purpose greater than himself.
Back in 2007, Ben took a church missions trip to Honduras, opening his eyes to the extreme poverty of this world. And that trip - 11 years ago - sparked an idea.
Spring gave a convincing false start last month in Chicagoland. It was the first of March, and I found myself outside in the shining sun, enjoying a mild 60° breeze. After three months spent licking icicles (which have since returned,) I was unable to resist nature’s charms—shed a quick tear for global climate change—and took a walk in the woods. After about a mile, I stopped to sit on a split log and looked up into the sky. Gazing into the vast blue dome rimmed in still-naked black oak branches, I took a deep breath and thought, “I am so glad I exist."
As a financial advisor, I do a lot of writing on the topic of financial planning. I write about how to maximize your retirement savings, how to purchase your first home, and how to build a budget that works for you and while there are certainly a lot of details to keep track of when it comes to financial planning, writing about it is relatively straightforward. When it came time to sit down and write this article however, I found myself dragging my feet.
Have you ever been worried that you missed it?
I mean, do you worry that you missed your place in the world, your purpose, your calling? Do you ask, “What if I’m not making a difference in the world?”
You know how seeing a picture can bring back memories?
I saw a photo recently that reminded me of a time in my life where I felt my lowest. It was a photo of myself and a few friends the day after I had a major anxiety attack. At the time the photo was taken, I had been living in Southeast Asia for almost 4 years as a missionary. I was involved in wonderful ministries, had amazingly encouraging friends, food to eat, a place to live, etc. Life was good. From the outside.
I grew up in the South which has more traditional views, and women often get married young. Some families in my circle had an opinion that a marriage proposal should be soon after a high school diploma. So while my gal peers got a husband, kid(s), and the white picket fence after high school, I got 3 degrees, loan debt, and adult braces.
With my hair pinned back in curls, half-inch heels tightly strapped to my feet, and a flowing red gown draped over my small frame, I was ready. As a wide-eyed 11 year old, I couldn't wait to wow the judges with my wit, charm, and fake eyelashes. I knew they would adore me.
Stepping into the interview, I smiled big (braces and all), introduced myself, and gave the three pageant judges a little wink. With only three minutes on the clock, I couldn't waste a second.