American Dream

By: Joseph Mantynen

My life before Christ was full of pain, anger, and lack of appreciation.  I had what I thought was a good life and I considered myself a good guy.  I had a career as a firefighter, money, my own house, toys, and vacations; all to share with my family that I loved very much.  I did not need help from anyone and many people looked up to me.  I had the “American Dream.”

That is just it, though!  Everything I had was temporal, I was the world.  I lived for me.  All I had was selfish.  I did not care about others and the good that I did was to glorify myself.  When life is based on a weak foundation and a storm comes, life will fall apart.

After I accepted Christ into my life wholeheartedly, hungering to know his truth and trying to draw near to Him, my life changed drastically.  Incarceration of the body means nothing.  Spiritually, I am alive!

I now have a purpose in my life; and that is, to pick up my cross daily and serve Christ.  I have peace, love, hope, and forgiveness now.  As undesirable as my current situation is, I am extremely grateful for God humbling me and allowing me to come to prison.  I enjoy denying self and helping those God puts on my heart.

Walking with Christ is the most rewarding, gracious life possible and I cannot put into words how grateful I am to be a Christian.