“What can I do for you?”asked Jesus – How would you answer?

   Photo: Vaughn Nicholas Duncan

By Vaughn Nicholas Duncan

Lent was a moment of reflection for many. In my time, I ponder many questions about life and purpose. Many of us have potential but what exactly is our purpose? As a young person, pondering about life and what direction to take, it makes room for doubts and regrets. The first and most obvious question was, “What is my purpose?”

Sometimes we sit back and ask God to guide us, or exclaim, “Jesus, take the wheel”. It is important to trust God and his plans. If you tell God your plans,  he will laugh at you? True story. Now what if you saw Jesus walking on the street and you shout out and call to him. He turns around to you and asks you this question, “What can I do for you?

How would you respond? The blind man said, “Jesus I want to see”.

Every day, we wake up and have to make decisions. Some tough, some simple, and decisions may not only affect you, but your friends, your Church and even your family. You may take a few moments to ponder your decisions because we worry about the implications. A friend once told me that she does not know what see wants in life. We wish the path ahead would be clear and easy to follow. We live in a system and our survival depends on that dollar. It may not be the dream job, but it pays the bills. And misery comes with the package. This may drive the young mind crazy. Add Murphy’s Law into the equation and you feel like you are drowning in the deep blue ocean with no life jacket in sight, or on an endless horrible bumpy savannah road. Almost every youth has their story to tell of their lack of sense of direction and vision. Then in the dark quiet moment, reflections come. Regrets and doubts with a bit of emotions can be quite paralyzing and counterproductive. So I had to ask myself this question, “Am I going crazy?” and “Depression?”

A good friend said to me, “It’s normal”.

As youths, it is normal to feel that way. (Not saying to ignore the signs of mental health issues) Do you remember when you were in school and even up to University, that everything seemed straightforward? Now, welcome to the real world, our older folks would greet us. You will be fouled and you will get tackled or get hit in ribs by the cork ball or even cleanly bowled between your legs.  

It is normal to feel weak, down and alone. Like everyone in the world has turned their backs on you. It’s normal to feel like you have to face it all alone. In his weakest moment, Jesus carried his friends to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. But his friends fell asleep and later ran away. He was betrayed. Nevertheless, Jesus prayed and persisted.

It is normal for young people to feel like we are falling in an endless dark pit. Maybe it is okay (NO, IT IS NOT OKAY) to turn to a bottle of rum, then pick a motorcycle and speed down the road, only to end up on a hospital bed the next morning. (Not Okay right?) It will be a big regret and you will beat yourself up for not considering other alternatives to escape your misery.

Sometimes, all you need is a friend to talk with. That one friend to ask you the right questions in the most confusing time of our young life. A friend who can help you to reflect. Reflections can also bring out a renewed and refreshed soul. And not necessarily on the first try. In a conversation with a friend, he pointed to Jesus’ question mentioned earlier.

And so to my fellow youths, I know that path is cloudy and the world is full of challenges, but time will clear it all. Giving up should not be an option. I found solace by not asking “What is my purpose?” but by thinking of how I would answer Jesus if he came up to me and asked, “What can I do for you?”