Leon’s Story
From his earliest memories, my husband, Leon, felt driven towards his pursuit of significance and purpose. But as he prepared for college graduation with his lifelong dream within grasp, he still didn’t feel happy. Until one day in an unlikely place, he uncovered the answer. His story reads as follows:
My father served as a career naval enlisted man. As a boy, I enjoyed going on board his ship. While aboard, however, I admired the officers because they had all the power and prestige. And I remember thinking if only I could become an officer someday, my life would have purpose.
Years later in pursuit of my boyhood dream, I joined the ROTC program to earn a naval officer’s commission. But four years later as college graduation approached, my lifelong quest to become a military officer left me feeling dissatisfied and empty.
Feeling discouraged, one afternoon while eating lunch in the school cafeteria, a couple of other students asked if they could join me. For some reason, I agreed. After chatting for a few moments, they asked a startling question, “Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?”
Immediately, I responded, “No.” My mom had brought me to church as a young boy. But God seemed so distant and uncaring.
With that negative response, the two men took out their Bibles from their back pockets and read Jesus’ words: “Behold, I stand at the door [of a person’s life] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and live with him….”1
A New Purpose
As I listened, Jesus’ words caught my attention. Interrupting my thoughts, the two men asked if I wanted to start a relationship with Jesus. Without hesitating, I answered, “Yes.”
While sitting in the middle of a crowded cafeteria, we talked to God. I asked Jesus Christ to forgive my sin–my deliberate wrongdoing, and I invited Him into my life. From the beginning, I somehow understood that Jesus needed to be the boss.
In that moment while eating lunch, Jesus entered my life. And over the years, little by little, God began to change me. First, He helped me clean up my foul language. Second, He gave me a desire to read the Bible. And thirdly, He increased my love for other people.
After graduation, my boyhood dream was finally realized, and I enjoyed serving as a naval officer over the next twenty years. However, back in that school cafeteria, I began to grasp the real meaning and purpose of my life: to love Jesus and tell others about Him.
See also: Proverbs 31 Ministries, Do You Know Jesus?
