# 66 (Why Not?) Live with Purpose . . .

Sometimes things get twisted up for us in our efforts to do what we should.

Most are aware - after attempting just one ill-fated vault in the team competition, Simone Biles withdrew from the all-around Women's Gymnastics competition , plus the finals of the vault, floor and uneven bars, citing a need for her to concentrate on her mental health. Today, she has decided to try and to compete in the women’s balance beam final(working to see if she can regain the the focus to perform the complex moves required - and yes, she won the Bronze Metal). Consider that now to . . .

Olympic Swimming Champion Michael Phelps who shared prior to the RIO Olympics that he was "struggling to figure out who he was outside the pool" in 2014, which led him to heavy drinking and wondering whether his life was worth living. "I thought the world would just be better off without me," Phelps admitted. "I figured that was the best thing to do — just end my life." Then, the 22-time medal winner, who was set to compete at the Summer games in Rio, said in a separate interview with NBC's "Today" that his DUI arrest in 2014 led to a "downward spiral" that left him feeling the lowest he had ever been. It was the Olympic swimmer's second DUI arrest in 10 years, which along with his numerous splintered relationships, prompted him to seek outside help. Phelps found hope in October 2015 when he entered The Meadows, a psychological trauma & addiction treatment center in Arizona. There, Phelps turned to Rick Warren's bestseller The Purpose Driven Life, which uplifted him so much so that he was nicknamed "Preacher Mike" by fellow patients, since he would often read to them from the book. Which is a great lesson and reminder for us all.

That being . . . we all are here for a purpose. Simone Biles is doing a reset to get back on track as she desires. You and I can do our part to either figure out and to pursue what we believe is our purpose - or, if we don't know it – spend some time to figure out the purpose that God has enabled within us & to pursue it.

And remember . . . Proverbs 16:4a ”The Lord has made everything for its own purpose”