Something Bigger Than You: What Veterans Day Teaches Us About Purpose
Somewhere between the job hunt, the side hustle, the student loans, and the group chat, a lot of young adults quietly ask the same question: Is this really all there is? If you are in your twenties and wondering what your life is supposed to be for, you are not behind. You are asking the right question.
Veterans Day is coming up on November 11, and it offers a surprisingly good answer. Every veteran made a decision at some point to give their time, their comfort, and sometimes their safety for something bigger than themselves.
Purpose Shows Up When You Give
Black Americans have served in every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to today, often defending freedoms abroad that were not yet fully granted to them at home. Think of the Tuskegee Airmen, who proved their excellence in the skies in the 1940s while still facing segregation on the ground. Their example says something powerful: your purpose is not canceled by unfair circumstances. Courage means serving anyway, with your eyes on something greater.
Jesus gave us the clearest picture of this in John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” He did exactly that for us. And in Mark 10:45, He said He came “not to be served, but to serve.” If you want to know who you are, look at what you are willing to give yourself to.
Start Small, Start Now
You do not need a uniform or a platform to live this out. You need a willingness. Maybe it is mentoring a teenager who reminds you of yourself. Maybe it is packing boxes at a food drive, checking on an older veteran in your family or neighborhood, or using your skills at work to help someone else get ahead.
Here is a challenge for this week. Reach out to a veteran you know, say thank you, and ask for their story. Then ask God one honest question: “Lord, what is one thing You want me to give myself to?” Write down whatever comes to mind and take one small step toward it. Purpose is rarely found by staring at your own life. It is found by serving others, and along the way you discover who God made you to be.
Find Your Place With Us
At ALCC, you do not have to figure this out alone. Join us for Sunday service at our Manchester or Eastman campus, or online, and meet people who are asking the same questions. Ask about our community outreach events, where you can serve alongside others. If life feels heavy or unclear, our Christian counseling team is here to listen. And if you want to understand your calling more deeply, ALCC Bible College is a great next step.
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