Shaney777 Posted August 21, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 1 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 16 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 6 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/24/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted August 21, 2014 Hello everyone, I need help finding an answer to the predicament that I’m in. Over the course of a few years, my worldview has recently changed into one where I must devote my life--using a career--to assist humans that suffer the most on earth; this needs to happen in order to bring fulfillment and meaning to my life. However, due to OCD (I believe it impairs decision making) and lack of information, I can’t seem to pinpoint the group of humans that objectively suffer the most. In the recent past, I typed up a little argument thing explaining why I am stuck in life, and I think it would be beneficial for you all to see. I will paste it at the end of this post. The need to help people does not come from wanting to be looked up to, pride, or a "holier than thou" attitude: it comes from the Golden Rule and empathy: I'd like for people to help me if I were in some of these miserable existence's shoes. I can feel their agony, and I know that I would never want to suffer that much. I would want someone to assist me; I would want the suffering to end. I can think of many people that need help, but I’m not sure how to find a nice little, objective list of what causes the most miserable, agonizing existences. The way my mind works--probably due to the OCD--is that I always need to have the best, highest, elitist, most significant everything. And in the case of a career to help others, I believe helping the people that need the most assistance is respectable and possible. I just need help learning and getting there! Sure, I can go back to college now and maybe major in a health field, but because I haven’t became aware of other possible majors, I will probably regret my choice and wonder if another major would have prepared me for a more respectable career--one that would allow me to help people who suffer in a worse way than said major did. This is a recurring thought process, and I am getting absolutely nowhere. The staying in my parent’s house is already old, and I want to get my life of meaning started! Possible afflictors could be bad mental problems (like depression or schizo), lack of food or water, lack of medical care, filthy living conditions, physically handicapped/mentally challenged, diseased, forced work (slavery), war torture, sex trafficking, or bullying. I also need to factor in the fact that since some folks are used to certain types of hardships, their suffering won't be as bad as outsiders perceive; this further complicated matters. Up until now in this post I have focused on the demand/need side of choosing a career, but an equally important side is that of my innate skills and interests. I know for a fact that a social career would NOT be a fit for me: I am a big introvert. I'd like to work "behind the scenes," so to speak. I know that this will limit my potential for meaningful change, but I am not a "people person". Also, my worst subject in school was math: I do not need a math-related career. However, after taking close to 20 career tests, I know that I excel in attention to detail, being precise, and following orderly directions. That is the attribute that scored the highest in most of the career tests. So, I’m fully aware that “me” will significantly diminish the range of career choices that I will be happy with. But here is the argument that I mentioned in the first paragraph: 1. It's conceivable there is a group of humans on earth that have endured the most suffering of the worst type; these humans will have underwent prolonged agony to an extent that death is a highly attractive option. 2. In order to bring meaning to my life, I must have a career where I can assist the members of said group to a place where death is no longer desired. 3. I am unable to pinpoint what type of suffering said group is dealing with. 4. I am unable to choose a major to help me prepare for the career. 5. I am unable to work where I need to be. Respectfully, Shane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted August 21, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 596 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,088 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,833 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Offline Share Posted August 21, 2014 My favorite thing to help people is to help feed the homeless. If you have the financial means to do that yourself all you have to do is hit the streets and find the homeless and take them to lunch. If you don't you might volunteer at a homeless shelter or a place that feeds the homeless. God knows there are enough that need help for us all to be busy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
He giveth more grace Posted August 21, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 123 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,049 Content Per Day: 0.32 Reputation: 267 Days Won: 9 Joined: 10/22/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted August 21, 2014 Shaney, you have servants heart, that's amiable and you must love God very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Patriot21 Posted August 22, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 28 Topic Count: 338 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 15,707 Content Per Day: 2.46 Reputation: 8,523 Days Won: 39 Joined: 10/25/2006 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/27/1985 Share Posted August 22, 2014 First off if your looking for meaning for life-helping others, won't do that only God can. Second, stop looking so hard. Seriously. The entire world is full of people who are in pain. Who are suffering. Who need Jesus. Instead of looking where to go, start with where your at and go from there, let God do the leading. Look around, sometimes its a smile, a hug, perhaps buy a homeless guy lunch and a bible. Maybe its cheering up a co-worker after an argument with a spouse, or babysitting a single moms kids so she can have a night out. Instead of worrying about where to go-start where your at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaney777 Posted August 31, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 1 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 16 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 6 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/24/2014 Status: Offline Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Thank you two for the replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLight Posted August 31, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 22 Topic Count: 1,294 Topics Per Day: 0.21 Content Count: 31,762 Content Per Day: 5.23 Reputation: 9,760 Days Won: 115 Joined: 09/14/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted August 31, 2014 I merged your two threads. I understand your desire to get as much help as possible, but please do so in only one thread, not multiple threads.God Bless,Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I need help finding an answer to the predicament that I’m in. Over the course of a few years, my worldview has recently changed into one where I must devote my life--using a career--to assist humans that suffer the most on earth; this needs to happen in order to bring fulfillment and meaning to my life. However, due to OCD (I believe it impairs decision making) and lack of information, I can’t seem to pinpoint the group of humans that objectively suffer the most. In the recent past, I typed up a little argument thing explaining why I am stuck in life, and I think it would be beneficial for you all to see. I will paste it at the end of this post.... ....So, I’m fully aware that “me” will significantly diminish the range of career choices that I will be happy with. But here is the argument that I mentioned in the first paragraph: 1. It's conceivable there is a group of humans on earth that have endured the most suffering of the worst type; these humans will have underwent prolonged agony to an extent that death is a highly attractive option. 2. In order to bring meaning to my life, I must have a career where I can assist the members of said group to a place where death is no longer desired. 3. I am unable to pinpoint what type of suffering said group is dealing with. 4. I am unable to choose a major to help me prepare for the career. 5. I am unable to work where I need to be.... To Be But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Proverbs 8:36 The Very Best You Can Be Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 First Surrender To Jesus For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 And Follow Him For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:35 Martyr Jim Elliot (1927-1956), missionary to the Auca people in Ecuador, often expressed this classic piece of wisdom: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” I recall a wise older pastor giving it to me five years ago and I always wondered the source. Now I have found it! The entire quote he gave me went like this... “God’s Word will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from God’s Word. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11 Love, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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