Powered by Faith
Andrew Wong
But Why?
In my sophomore year in college, I transferred from Pace University to the University of Connecticut. But why? I wanted to leave my hometown, experience something new, and learn to be independent. But why? I thought it would be cool to go to a well-known school with sports teams that can win championships.
But why? This is a question you can ask in response to any statement. It can be as infinite as your imagination would allow it. But eventually, you may reach a point where you say, what exactly is the point?
I’ve lived in a state of observation for most of my life. I moved from city to city, searching for a place I could call home. I met many people along the way, but almost all interactions left me feeling drained. I try to fit in, but every time, I feel I have to sacrifice a part of who I am.
During the COVID years, I decided to pick up reading. I never enjoyed reading before, but it was a difficult time in life, and I was searching for answers to everything. Over the years, I read many books, ranging from self-help to science fiction. Each book gave me temporary satisfaction but always left me reaching for the next as if I were one book away from being fulfilled.
At the beginning of 2024, I was reading the book “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. It was a book I enjoyed, perfect for someone in self-reflection. However, halfway through “The Midnight Library,” I came across a book on social media that would lead my life in a completely new direction. The book was “The Good and Beautiful Bible Study” by Alabaster Co. I immediately purchased the book. After reading parts of it, I wanted to read the source of where this book was derived from: the Bible.
Faith, Hope, and Love
But why? Science can never ultimately answer this question. No experimentation, exploration, laboratory, or algorithm can answer it. Whether someone wants to answer this question is a choice, but the answer requires faith.
I was never religious. I approached most of my existential curiosity scientifically and philosophically. That changed when I read the Bible, took up my cross daily, and followed Jesus.
But why? Faith, Hope, and Love.
Love is a fundamental theme in the Bible. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies as much as we love ourselves, family, and friends. When I read this passage, I immediately looked back on my life. I wondered about the difference I could have made if I had expressed love and remained positive when negativity or disrespect was directed at me. However, when negativity or disrespect was directed at me for most of my adult life, I became isolated instead.
One of my biggest struggles is understanding why some people feel the need to bring others down. This observation has remained constant whether I'm moving to a new city, joining a new community, or even at places I’ve worked.
Temptation
There is a story in the Bible where the devil tempted Jesus. Jesus was tested by Satan and was offered things of “this world” if he worshipped him. This story resonated with me based on my personal experiences. It reaffirmed emotions I’ve always felt. As I think back on my choice to relocate to Washington, D.C., for my job, my main goal was to establish a thriving career, earn money to buy “things,” and ultimately enjoy a retirement filled with even more “things.” However, after spending over a decade in the corporate world, I came to realize that the pursuit of achievement and the drive to earn more didn’t make much sense.
Over that time of my career, I heard things like “nice guys finish last,” “you have to be more assertive,” and “perception is reality.” All this is true in the corporate world. To be promoted, you can’t be the nice guy; you must be assertive and give your perception of value to your boss, colleagues, and clients. Either you use your teammates as a checkbox to get promoted, or you’re the checkbox that leads to their promotion.
As a society, we value superficial things like job titles and status; we judge from outward appearances and what that person can do for you. It seems like we live in a world where interactions are entirely transactional. This is one angle from which to view how chasing the things of “this world” could be seen as fundamentally evil.
I also want to make clear that there are many people that I have worked with who have had inspiring careers, well-earned promotions, are genuinely kind people, and are making positive differences to people around them.
As a child, I always dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. I dreamed of pitching for the New York Mets and celebrating a World Series championship. These dreams didn’t include wanting to own mansions, driving expensive cars up Fifth Avenue, or the idea of all the attention and fame I might receive walking around Central Park. Whether you wanted to be a doctor, firefighter, teacher, or athlete, it likely came from a “treasury of a good heart.”
But what changes over time? Temptation. Evil is often hidden in plain sight through deception and distractions, and chasing the things of “this world” leads to judgment, jealousy, bullying, envy, and sometimes even worse. When we relentlessly pursue our goals, what are the consequences? Is this pursuit rooted in good or evil? When we focus solely on ourselves, family, and friends, avoiding the confrontations of the world around us, are we being good or merely ignoring evil? The answer to these personal questions requires deep reflection.
Growth
Over the past few years, I’ve been working on becoming the best version of myself. I’m not perfect, but I strive to get better every day. I genuinely always just want to spread love and kindness. However, how can I navigate through a world that doesn’t usually reward kind and gentle people but is taken advantage of instead? I found my answer in this Bible verse: