Searching for the Meaning to Life, Miguel Solorio

I was raised in a Christian home, and as a child I always remembered being taught about Jesus Christ and the life he lived to take away my sins. I grew up as a typical boy in a small community outside of Houston, Texas.

After my high school graduation, I began a struggle to find the purpose of my life, but felt inadequate in my search. I realized that I was growing up and wanted to dedicate my life to something and have something more to live for.

I was led to The University of Texas in Austin to pursue a degree in government. My junior year my life took a substantial turn as the sense to find a purpose in my life intensified. I knew that I enjoyed helping others and thought that I would dedicate my life to public service, serving my community as a state legislator. I served as an intern during the legislative session and observed many people who dedicated their lives to serve their community as state legislators. I was able to gain some insight into the lives of people who dedicated themselves to serving others. My initial thought of working in the Texas legislature was that I would find my purpose in life and perhaps finally fill the void I felt inside. But I was mistaken. After I completed my internship, I remained empty and longed for something more. I was troubled to see that most people who gave their lives to public service continued to remain unsatisfied, still seeking for a sense of completion and satisfaction. I was determined not to find myself in their same position, still lost and dissatisfied.

Also at the beginning of my junior year I came in contact with some Christians at U.T. Austin who were meeting with the local church. I received encouragement from these Christian friends to pursue and improve my relationship with Jesus Christ. I was most touched by the Bible studies and the Bible truths that were being presented and opened up to me. I was raised a Christian but never realized that as a man I was created by God with three parts and that in order for me to contact and receive Jesus Christ I needed to use my human spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23; John 4:24). I never knew I was created as a vessel to contain the life of Jesus Christ and that this life is in my human spirit and through my cooperation this life will spread to my soul and body (Romans 9:21; Philippians 2:12; Ephesians 3:17).

So as I completed my junior year I took some time to reflect on my experiences of working in the legislature and meeting with the local church in Austin. I remembered being deeply impressed with the joy that I sensed from being in the home meetings of the believers who were meeting with the local church. These believers were happy and joyous and their source of contentment was Jesus Christ. One line of a song that impacted me the most and that gave me a clear view of what it meant to believe into Jesus Christ is, “I've got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!”

I endured a great struggle trying to find the meaning to my life, so for me to understand and believe that I am a vessel created to contain the life of Jesus Christ was the turning point in my life. I have not given up on my dream of becoming a state legislator but it is a mercy for me to know that my source of happiness and fulfillment is not in a career but in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.