An old man's dream of sharing purposeful living with the young

Most of you, young people, wonder what the future holds for you. This is quite normal, because you have not yet travelled far along that road leading to the unknown that lies ahead of you, so you are curious what might happen along that way. As I write these words, I have journeyed more than 85 years along this pathway into the future, meeting youngsters in 44 countries around the globe, so I have some idea what might be coming.

Looking back, I have so many thoughts to share with you, if you care to listen. Having mentored hundreds and hundreds teenagers and young adults in China, Nepal, Rwanda, and all the other countries, I generally know many of the questions you struggle with. “Who am I really?” “Why am I so confused?” “What is this life all about?” “Do I really have a purpose?” “If so, what is it?” “What should I live for?” Of course, you have many other questions as well, about marriage, family, school, or the workplace, and all kinds of other issues. At times, you also have negative thoughts about yourself. Do you know why? I hope to explain later, so be patient with me.

Most of you do not have a caring coach who is deeply interested in your very well-being. If I may, I’d like to be a coach for you. I really wish that I had such a coach when I was young. You need some caring direction from someone who travelled the road ahead of you. I understand what you and many others are struggling with, so I’d like to share my life experience with you. We can laugh together and I can cry with you as well. I’ve done so with a number of you who opened up to me.

Many young friends have shared with me their misery in not having been understood by father or mother, having been beaten or ridiculed or belittled at times, having been bullied by peers, sometimes having felt so lonely or utterly lost and not cared for by anyone. Many of you have wondered whether love is real, whether marriage makes any sense, whether sex has anything to do with love. I have listened to a lot of your stories and cried with you when I sensed your loneliness, felt your woundedness, and was heart-broken by your pain and your hopelessness.

At the same time, my understanding of reality has also birthed in me a life vision as I experienced genuine love, the orderliness of the universe, the meaningfulness of life, the joy of being understood, the thrill of seeing purpose in our existence, and the gratitude of helping many friends to experience delight in hope and renewed meaning. Life can feel so dark and useless at times; yet, it is much, much more than that, my dear friend!! It’s true!!!

Let me share with you sensible things about emotions, important things about boyfriend-girlfriend relationships, useful things about marriage and friendship relations, meaningful things about your value, significant things about the nature of reality, and many more. But I need time to explain all these matters to you; therefore, I hope that I can keep on adding to this website that a fine young African friend is helping me to get online for you. May I be inspired to keep writing you.