Do you feel lucky? No? Well you should. You just made it to another Monday morning. Many others didn't, so don't leave the house without a prayer of thanks.

Anyway, you're amongst the living and that's nice, but do you ever wonder why? Do you wonder why you're here, what your purpose is? Why did God keep you alive one more week? I like to think it's because you are supposed to make a difference. No matter who you are or what you do, a God like ours, who always has a plan, would never keep you alive for no reason whatsoever. So if there's a reason why you woke up this morning, you'd better make sure your week is spent fulfilling that purpose.

Now, for some of us, the tough part is figuring out exactly what that purpose is supposed to be. You see, the modern world is not like the Old Testament when God would appear to His children and explain with diagrams exactly what they must do with their lives. Today's "Anno Domini" world works differently. As Paul said to the Philippians in Chapter 2, Verse 12, these days, you have to "work out your salvation". So too must we work out our purpose on earth, and create our own opportunities to make a difference.

Now, if you don't know where to start, allow me to tell you a story my pastor once told me.

A woman was walking along the beach one day. The tide was strong, and every time it washed over the shore, it would leave loads of starfish stranded on the sand. The whole beach was littered with thousands and thousands of dying starfish, as far as her eyes could see. Suddenly, up ahead, she noticed a man dashing back and forth, in and out of the sea. As she got closer, she noticed that he was frantically picking up the starfish and flinging them back into the ocean.

Overcome with curiosity, she asked the man: "Why are you wasting your time like this? There are thousands of starfish dying on the beach. How many can you save? What difference does it make?".

Without breaking his stride, the man picked up another starfish, and turned to the woman. "It makes a difference to this one". With that, he threw the lucky starfish into the sea, and went back for another one.

My dear friend, it may not be so clear to you what your purpose is in life, or whether you're actually fulfilling it from one day to the next, but I can assure you that you were put on this earth to make a difference. In a world so vast, it is sometimes the little things we do that make a big difference to somebody. Don't spend ages today, trying to figure out your grand purpose in life - just do little things.

Today, smile at the office cleaner and ask him/her about their family. Reply that email you received from those annoying fundraisers. If you use the motorway, pay the toll for the car behind you. Every day, tell one person to keep the change. Give some old clothes to the homeless guy you drive past on your way to work. Call your mother. Do just one little thing that will make a big difference to someone's life.

You may not know why you're alive today, and God certainly doesn't charge us rent for the space we occupy on earth, but don't let that stop you from showing your gratitude with little acts of kindness that will make a big difference to someone. Kindness is our true purpose here on earth, and that includes you.

Now, I have a gift for you this Magnificent Monday morning. It's a poem, by Emily Dickinson:

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
5
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

My name is Kojo Yankson, and I'm trying to fulfill my purpose, one starfish at a time.

GOOD MORNING, GHANAFO!