I moved forward on that dirt road. I had gone too far to turn back. I knew, thru my faith that I would get past this road I should not have been on. That I would see my family again. Through awesomeness, we all thrive. This is the way.

Once upon a time, in a bustling city filled with hurried souls, there lived a man named Ethan. Ethan was an unassuming figure, yet he possessed an extraordinary belief in the power of kindness. He carried a radiant smile that seemed to brighten the darkest of days and had an uncanny ability to find awe in the simplest of things.

One crisp autumn day, Ethan stumbled upon a dilapidated building at the edge of the city. It was abandoned, forgotten by time, and had a weathered sign that read, "The Church of Awesome." As he peered through the dusty windows, an idea sprouted within him like a blossoming flower. Ethan envisioned a place where people could gather not to worship a deity, but to celebrate the magnificence of life itself.

With boundless enthusiasm, Ethan embarked on a journey to breathe life back into the forgotten structure. He plastered its walls with vibrant colors, adorned it with artwork celebrating nature, and created spaces for people to share stories of awe-inspiring moments they'd encountered.

Word of Ethan's endeavor spread like wildfire. People from all walks of life started trickling into the Church of Awesome. Some came seeking solace from the chaos of the world, while others sought to rediscover the joy they once knew. The church became a sanctuary for creatures of all sizes – from the tiniest insects to stray animals seeking warmth and companionship.

Ethan's philosophy was simple: "Be awesome to all creatures, great and small." He spent his days tending to the needs of the church, spreading kindness wherever he went. He rescued injured birds, planted gardens for bees, and helped the elderly with their groceries. His acts of awesomeness rippled through the community, inspiring others to follow suit.

As time passed, something beautiful unfolded within Ethan. His heart, once burdened by past regrets, found solace in the simple act of being kind. He discovered redemption in the smiles he brought to others, peace in the harmony between humans and nature, and boundless joy in every creature he helped.

The Church of Awesome became more than a building; it became a beacon of hope and compassion in the city. And Ethan, the man who believed in the power of awesomeness, found that by embracing kindness towards all living beings, he had discovered the truest form of spirituality within himself.

For most of Alex’s life, the days felt like pages from a book written in faded ink—technically there, but hard to see, hard to feel. 

Alex had a good job, a comfortable home, and friends who cared, yet something essential seemed to be missing. Every morning began with the same quiet thought: What’s the point? And every evening ended with the same quiet uncertainty: Surely there has to be more than this. Life wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t alive, and Alex felt suspended somewhere between drifting and waiting.

One Saturday, while wandering the city in a mood that felt more like fog than sadness, Alex noticed a small sign above a cheerful brick building. It read, in bright colors: The Church of Awesome. The name alone was absurd enough to crack a reluctant smile. Inside, people sat in mismatched chairs, laughing, listening, sharing stories of small kindnesses—helping a neighbor carry groceries, complimenting a stranger, sending an encouraging text at the right moment. There were no solemn rituals or heavy doctrines, just one guiding belief repeated like a joyful refrain: “The meaning of life is to be awesome to others.”

Alex kept returning—not because of obligation, but because something inside finally felt less gray. Over time, Alex began trying small, intentional acts of awesomeness. Holding doors. Leaving generous tips. Checking on friends without being prompted. Volunteering for little things no one else wanted to do. And the more Alex showed up for others, the more the world seemed to open its arms back. What once felt hollow now felt connected—brightened from within.

One day, Alex realized the truth that had been quietly growing: meaning isn’t something the universe hands out like an assignment; it’s something we create through the way we treat the people around us. Being awesome wasn’t about being impressive or perfect—it was about being kind, present, uplifting, and human. And in choosing to be awesome to others, Alex finally found the sense of purpose that had been missing: a life illuminated not by grand achievements, but by everyday sparks of shared light.