Thursday, August 04, 2005

The New Me

So life goes on..... I am adjusting to life back in the States. When you leave the country for 2 months you really opposite the simple things. For me it is hot running water, a toilet that flushes on the first try, ice, taco bell, and driving my car on a smooth paved highway at 70, just to name a few. A friend emailed be the other a day and said that I had into a hippie and had become earthy. I disagree I think I have become a realist. My eyes have been opened to more of a world view. My view is beyond life in the states. Being in Africa for 2 months changed my life. The person I was before I left is no more. Some say that a traumatic experience will change your life. Well my trip to Africa was traumatic, in the way that I figured out that I need to live my life differently. Before this trip I had no idea which direction my life was headed. My friend James and I call it a 1/4 life crisis (assuming we will live to 100.)
You are out of college, quite your job, become a ski bum, then you do something crazy like go to Africa. That is what I did and I have no regrets.
Now I come back from Africa changed. Done with my crisis. Not saying that I have life figured out, just that I know now that I have matured from this experience and ready to become a mature adult.
I know that I went through this "crisis" for a reason. It was God's purpose for my life. He knew that I had no idea what I was doing with my life. He knew that I would go to Africa and come back like I have. He sent me half way across the world to find purpose in life, to find purpose in Him. For me it took letting go. Letting God take over my life. If someone would of told me a year ago that I would quite my job and become a missionary and then go into full time ministry, I would of laugh; no I would of peed my pants laughing so hard.
But it took giving God total control of my life. Letting him be the polite of my life if you will. Letting Him take me to far off crazy places in a matted in Kenya. And for me to be the co-pilot, to sit up front not touching anything, just letting Him know about air traffic and the weather. In other words letting him km owe what is going on in my life. Telling him when to pull me up and when I need to land.
So as the days go on I am challenging myself to be changed everyday. Not to be the same lazy guy I was before I left. To take a stand. To accomplish the thing I set out to accomplish years ago.
So if you see me on the road, at the golf course, coffee shop, or my favorite dining establishment. Asked me what I have done today. Not what I have done for myself, but what have I done for others. Ask me how I am challenging myself today.
What about you? Are you tired of the life you are living? Want to change it for the better?
Change it forever? Email me and I will tell you how.
Grizzlyadams02@yahoo.com

2 comments:

Sarah said...

Douger, I am so incredibly super happy for you. SUPER DUPER POOPER SCOOPER! All you talk of purpose made me think of "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Have you read that? If not, put it on your list. I'd love to hear from you if you have time. Still have the KC phone #.

Anonymous said...

You may be the coolest man named Michael Douget that I know! :o) It is always a pleaure talking to you...somehow I always end up laughing about something stupid! Like Pineville, DANK U, playa please, your done! Michael, you are seriously going to change this world...one state at a time (and at the rate you are at....state jumping...you might change this country before you are 30!
-Brittany